Students from Pinjarra Senior High School are reaping the benefits of learning about life on the land thanks to organic recycling company C-Wise.
Each Thursday about ten students head to C-Wise’s Wandalup Farm to drive tractors, shear sheep and learn about soil rehabilitation.
The students, between the ages of 15 and 17, are part of FLEEC (Flexible Learning Education & Engagement Centre) – an agriculture program that will see them graduate with a Certificate II in Rural Operations.
Director of C-Wise Andy Gulliver said they established the program twenty years ago to help local children learn the core skills of agriculture.
“It’s been a long-term project that encourages students to get hands-on in a range of environmental and farming activities,” said Mr Gulliver.
“The program complements our company’s objective to find truly sustainable solutions to feeding the world’s population,” he said.
“As our future generation, it’s important that we open kids’ minds now so that they can embrace and implement these concepts down the track”.
Teacher Darryl Spargo, who founded the program with C-Wise, said the children love the experience.
“They do both horticultural and agricultural units, and our classes look after around 200 hectares of farmland, which is half the farm, including 50 head of cattle and 100 head of sheep,” said Mr Spargo.
Run as a collaborative effort between Pinjarra SHS, TAFE and C-Wise, the program has been running since 1999.
The 400ha site, which integrates compost production, a piggery and cattle and sheep grazing, provides the students with a wide range of activities, including animal husbandry, growing organic vegetables and caring for the land.
“Several of our students have gone on to bigger and better things as a result of the FLEEC program,” said Mr Spargo.
“One student won a scholarship to become a shearer as a result of our Cert II program. Other students have gone to work on cattle farms.”
“Another student, who was autistic, became a primary school teacher, while others move to trades or hardware backgrounds that are associated.”
“They also learn about work ethics, animal husbandry and general agriculture. They pick up plenty of skills.”
For sixteen year old Bailey Brown, a former student of Pinjarra SHS and FLEEC, the program was a great excuse to get out of classroom.
“It was a good hands-on experience,” said Bailey
“I really enjoyed getting out there and getting involved,” he said.
“I had an ag background but it wasn’t much. I gained a fair bit of knowledge in certain areas, such as working with tractors. I also learned a lot about shearing, horticulture and cattlework.”
Bailey has just embarked on a four year full-time apprenticeship as a heavy duty diesel mechanic.
