Agriculture experts recently provided hands-on experience and career guidance to over 20 students from Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Fraser Lake and Vanderhoof.
Taking place from Sept. 27 to 29, the annual ‘project agriculture’ of School District No. 91 (Nechako Lakes) not only gave Grade 10 to 12 students a snapshot of the agriculture industry, but also connected them with local employers for future opportunities.
With senior students given higher priority, applicants to the project were selected according to their interest in agriculture.
“It’s up to the students to touch base with us afterwards to spend a full day alone to job shadow, which may either turn into a job or at least clarify what works and what doesn’t for their future plans,” said Darren Carpenter, career and programs coordinator for School District No. 91.
Although Lakes District Secondary School student Kasha Obarianyk grew up with farming, she said the project allowed her have a broader understanding of all that farming entails.
The three-day program kicked off with animal assessment and care at the Nechako Valley Animal Health Services, horseshoe forging with farrier Calvin Read and cattle processing with Little Valley Farms’ team at B.C. Livestock’s auction yard.
On the second and third day, students learned about ATV safety, horsemanship, hay hauling, dairy operations, as well as stream stewardship on DMS Farm.
The project then wrapped up with meat cutting by Vanderhoof and Districts Co-op and sturgeon conservation at the Nechako White Sturgeon Conservation Centre.