The Government has announced a new rural scholarship programme to support young farmers to grow in confidence and gain experience to become farm leaders of the future.
Agriculture and Forestry Minister, Todd McClay said three Minister of Agriculture Future Leaders Scholarships will be offered annually. Recipients will receive a grant of $10,000 to go towards domestic and international study and capability building and to grow industry-wide experience and best practice.
The Minister said the scholarships will help identify emerging leaders across the primary sector including in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
“It will help foster leadership and capability development, supporting successful applicants to grow their governance skills and encouraging the creation of opportunities for practical hands-on primary sector governance experience,” he said.
The Ministry for Primary Industries will work with sector leaders to ensure the programme effectively targets capability gaps in rural governance and will develop an annual application process with relevant criteria to ensure the programme is fair and transparent.
“The Kiwi can-do attitude is world-renowned and this scholarship is about nurturing that,” Mr McClay says.
“This Government is committed to finding pathways to build the future in a way that supports the sector’s sustained success.”
The Government has also announced the creation of a Rural Wellbeing Champions Programme, which will be embedded in the iconic New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year Contest.
It has pledged $98,000 to support the 100 Champions Rural Wellbeing Programme, to be delivered by New Zealand Young Farmers in partnership with Farmstrong.
The New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year Contest is recognised as a pathway for future regional wellbeing champions. The programme will be delivered through the contest and will support up to 150 participants throughout their journey focusing on providing young farmers with tools they can use in everyday life to check in on themselves, and their mates.
