Hundreds of Year 9 students from Auckland and Waikato have just wrapped up an unforgettable experience – Inspiring Food and Fibre Futures – and the buzz is still going strong!
This wasn’t your typical classroom lesson. Donald’s Farm (New Zealand Young Farmers) partnered with us to deliver Inspiring the Future events alongside other fun, interactive activities. This event was supported by Rabobank New Zealand and Fonterra and gave students a hands-on look at the incredible opportunities in New Zealand’s food and fibre sector.
From fencing workshops to potting native seedlings and even trying out a horse-racing simulator, students got stuck in and discovered that this industry is about so much more than farming. It’s about science, technology, sustainability, leadership and innovation.
One student summed it up perfectly: “I touched the electric fence, and it didn’t really hurt – just a little shock! It was cool to learn farm safety in real life instead of a classroom.”
Teachers and principals were just as enthusiastic, saying the experience is already influencing subject choices and career conversations. Many schools are keen to bring food and fibre learning into their programmes next year.
What made the biggest impact?
- Seeing real role models in action – including women in technical roles, which challenged old stereotypes
- Discovering careers that involve drones, robotics, genetics and environmental science
- Understanding the full “grass-to-glass” journey – from pasture to processing – and the huge range of jobs that make it happen.
Sam Waugh, General Manager at Donald’s Farm, captured the magic: “We saw students light up when they realised a career in this industry could involve digital tech, animal care or engineering. That spark can shape a lifetime – and that’s the legacy of this event.”
While hundreds of students came to the farm, the ripple effect is much bigger. Every student takes home new knowledge, new stories and new possibilities – sharing them with whānau, friends and communities. That’s how we build a future-ready workforce for Aotearoa.
Tahatū Career Navigator and Inspiring the Future – the perfect partners
Tahatū Career Navigator, the Tertiary Education Commission’s new career planning website, and Inspiring the Future work together to bring future-focused learning to life. Both are designed to align with the New Zealand curriculum, supporting career education and empowering students to explore identity, aspirations and pathways.
Teachers can easily weave these tools into their lesson plans, making it simple to achieve learning outcomes while inspiring students to imagine what’s possible for their future.
Check out Tahatū Career Navigator.
Keen to host an Inspiring the Future event for your school?
We would love to support your school to host an Inspiring the Future event for your students.