A new primary industries trailer is helping bridge the gap between classroom and farm, making more practical lessons possible for high school agriculture students.
It's part of the Western Access Program, which gives HSC students in Peak Hill, Trundle, Tullamore, Tottenham and Yeoval Central Schools access to more than 40 subjects by specialised teachers.
Students in these five schools who undertake agricultural and primary industries studies during their senior years will benefit from a primary industries trailer recently donated by Regional Industry Education Partnerships (REIP).
The trailer will make conducting practical lessons related to livestock, wool harvesting, fencing, and chemical and agriculture generalist units easier.
“The primary industries trailer is an invaluable resource for schools in the Western Access Program to teach Agriculture and Primary Industries," Head Teacher for the Western Access Program Crystal Stanford said.
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"It offers students a true insight into agriculture and helps them develop the essential skills the farming industry relies on. By providing hands-on experience, the trailer effectively bridges the gap between classroom learning and practical farm work.
"The purchase of the trailer through the RIEP program will enable us to invest not only in the future of our students to stay within their local communities, but also in the future of farming within our communities," Crystal added.
Troy Kelly, Senior Project Officer from REIP, addressed students and individuals who made the trailer possible.
"Our (REIP) whole purpose is to work with industry to try and address skill and labour shortages across the industry," Mr Kelly said.
"Obviously agriculture is one of the critical areas that are essential to our economy so we really need to have more young people looking at it as a career path.
"I'm really pleased to be able to partner with Western Access Program and our program REIP to provide the primary industries trailer. It's really great to be able to accommodate all of the practical activities across all of the schools without having students travel between," Mr Kelly said.
The trailer was manufactured by local man James Dunn who also attended Peak Hill Central School.
"James has helped us over the last couple of years establish this whole agricultural enterprise here from the sheds to the shelters and the yards and has been an inspiration to the students," Peak Hill Central School principal Peter Neilsen said.
Australian Wool Innovation courses will also now be delivered to students thanks to the trailer.
Elliott Learmonth from Australian Wool Innovation tested the trailer out on the day to shear Daphne the goat.
"It's quite hard to get around out to local schools as we've done training programs in the past with schools," Elliott said.
"We've got to get the kids out to a shed which is 60-70ks away from the school, so to be able to take this away to a school and use it, it's pretty handy."
Industry and career immersion activities and practical sessions on farms and other enterprises will be facilitated creating stronger connections with the industry and potential career pathways for students.
"These types of facilities will make it much easier for our limited staff travelling to different locations around the western region and it's all about outcomes for our kids," Mr Neilsen said.
"Without funding for these much needed resources rural schools would find it difficult to provide resources for their students."
Students were thrilled to see the trailer at the launch and were excited to see what they would be able to do now in their practical lessons.
"The trailer is awesome! It's like having a mini farm on wheels and we can try things we wouldn't normally get to do in our regular lessons," Baileigh Gavin said.
"The trailer brings the industry to us. It's such a great way to prepare for future careers and gives us a taste of what working in agriculture is like," Henry Stanford said.
“Having the Primary Industries trailer makes learning so much more hands-on and fun. We get to work with real equipment and use these on our animals here at the Ag farm. It will be just like they would in industry," Bailey Eldridge said.
"On behalf of the five principal across the western access program, I'd really like to thank REIP for their donation for getting this done," Mr Neilsen said.
