Smedley places for farmers of future | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

An opportunity too good to miss has been offered to two Wairarapa College pupils who have their sights set on becoming farmers.

Mark Baxter and Scott Wilkinson, both aged 17, have been accepted as cadets for next year's Smedley Station intake.

Smedley - situated 40km west of Waipukurau - is recognised as one of the best farm training establishments in Australasia and takes in only 11 cadets a year.

Mark and Scott were among 80 applicants for next year's intake, of whom 25 were interviewed.

Head of the agricultural department at Wairarapa College, Murray Ford, said Smedley was very well run and looked upon as the "epitome" for farm training.

Both Mark and Scott are from farming backgrounds, Mark being from Pongaroa and Scott from rural Masterton.

They start at Smedley on January 16 and are looking forward to two years of "hands-on" training.

Smedley is a sheep and beef property of 3186ha that winters 31,000 stock units.

Apart from clothing, harness gear and dogs all other costs including food are found, with Smedley footing the bill.