Tasman District School farm program still going strong

Tasman District School students are getting hands-on farming experiences through its agricultural program.

The school has about eight hectares dedicated to farming, with cattle, sheep, and chickens.

Other facilities include a workshop, sheds and dedicated agricultural equipment.

Bill Shoobridge runs the Tasman District School’s agriculture curriculum, with a farm having been on the grounds since the late 1950s.

“We have a good set of cattle yards, portable sheep yards, sheds to store hay and machinery, and then we keep livestock coming in during the year to assist our teaching,” Mr Shoobridge said.

“I call my philosophy the helicopter model.

“We bring in the livestock we need to teach and then, if we can, we move it on before doing the same next year.”

The students are taking part in the Tasmanian School Merino Wether Challenge, and the sheep the students will be using have already arrived.

“The students will work with those sheep to quieten them down, look after their health, drench them, trim their nails, and crutch them,” Mr Shoobridge said.

While primary school-aged pupils use the farm, secondary students take part in the agricultural programs.

“I call it rural futures, because the Tasman is such a diverse area,” Mr Shoobridge said.

“Having aquaculture just across the bay, tourism across the hill, and conservation and land management in terms of the many tracks that are here, I like to think the students that are here can access a future in any of those areas – including understanding agriculture.”

With students able to complete a Certificate II in Agriculture through TasTAFE at the school farm, Mr Shoobridge said the students loved the classes.

“They get outside of the classroom in an authentic learning environment,” he said.

Mr Shoobridge said that many students go on to further study or work in the agricultural sector.

“My personal goal is to teach them about their environment.

“In this area, we have chickens, beef cattle, sheep and horticulture operations.

“We also have a lot of people who are looking at a sustainability ethic, producing their own food, so I want to give them the skills and understanding to be able to engage in that area.

“If I wanted to do something that I didn’t see represented in this community, I wouldn’t do it.”

Jameika Thomason is a grade 12 student at the Tasman District School, studying her Certificate II in Agriculture.

“I find the classes quite fun because we get hands-on with everything,” Ms Thomason said.

“I live on a farm at home, but often I’m in the background.

“The school farm gives me a chance to get right into the good stuff.”

Ms Thomason said she aimed to move to the mainland and work at a station.