Please note this programme is no longer running.
Deer Industry New Zealand and the NZ Deer Farmers' Association ran this programme to give agriculture students an awesome, up close look at our special industry.
Over the course of a week they spent time working with and learning from:
- Awesome deer farmers
- Venison, velvet and co-product marketing companies
- The DFA Next Generation workshop attendees - for details of the DFA Next Generation conference, click here >>
2021 – Jaime Reid (AgITO Level 3 Central NI), Emma Foss (Fairlight Foundation, Southland), Faith McIntyre (AgITO Level 3 Central NI) and Libby Millar (Otago Polytechnic, Cromwell).
2020 – Renee Wood (AgITO Level 4 South Canterbury), Carey Pawson-Edwards (Coleridge Downs Training Farm, Rakaia), Erika Johnstone (Otago Polytechnic, Cromwell), William Bishop (AgITO Level 4 South Canterbury) and Jack Olsen (Smedley Station, Hawke's Bay).
2019 – Mckenzie Bird (SIT Telford), Chief Whakaue (Smedley Station, Hawke's Bay), Kate Goodson (Waikato Institute of Technology) and Maddy Calder (AgITO Level 4)
2018 – Valencia Hamerton (Taratahi, Wairarapa), Shaun Tahau (Smedley Station, Hawke's Bay) and Mikayla Simpson (Otago Polytechnic, Cromwell).
The following students have been selected to take part in the 2022 Future Deer Farmers Experience to learn about deer farming in New Zealand to help them in their careers as future farmers. This year’s experience takes place from 09 – 12 August 2022 in the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Central North Island. Deer Industry NZ and the NZ Deer Farmers Association congratulates the following on their selections!
Joel Loxton
Joel comes from the Mackenzie basin and is currently studying towards a Diploma in Farm Management at Lincoln University.
Joel is looking to expand his knowledge of the industry from the tour, and to gain key insights from farmers and producers in the industry to find out the future aspirations of the Deer Industry are.
Katie McNeill
We welcome Katie McNeill on tour, Katie is currently an intern at Fairlight Station, Southland as part of the Fairlight Foundation. She is from a sheep, beef and deer property in Taihape in the North Island.
On this tour Katie is looking to grow her existing knowledge within the sector and has a desire to work in it. She would one day love to go back to the family farm to work and improve the deer enterprise.
Angus Gardner
Angus hails from Culverden, North Canterbury where the home block has deer on it. At present he is training to be a future farmer at Smedley Station in the Hawke’s Bay.
He thinks the tour will be an amazing opportunity to learn more about the industry and deer farming in the Central North Island. He is looking to better understand the practices of other farmers to learn and gain knowledge from.
Olivia Anderson
Olivia is studying the High Country Farming Programme at Otago Polytechnic, Central Campus Cromwell. She is originally from the West Coast Hokitika.
She sees the experience as an awesome opportunity to meet like-minded people and network with people within the industry. She is a big advocate for farm to plate and understanding where food comes from and will using this tour to understand more about this.
Deer Industry NZ and the NZ Deer Farmers Association would like to thank the following industry partners for their contribution during the week and for agreeing to host the group to help them learn more about our special industry;
- Alpine Deer NZ, Tauranga
- Bay of Plenty Deer Farmers Association
- CK Import Export, Te Awamutu
- Silver Fern Farms, Rotorua Plant
- Goudies Pamu, Reporoa
- Pamu Aratiatia Deer Milking, Taupo
- Waihi-Pukawa Station, Kuratau
- Balquhidder farm, Taihape
- Ruapehu Deer Stud, Taihape.
The following students have been selected to take part in an awesome week of touring the deep south of New Zealand learning about deer farming to help them in their careers as future farmers. This year’s tour takes place from 01 – 05 August 2021 in Southland and Queenstown. Deer Industry NZ and the NZ Deer Farmers Association congratulates the 4 young ladies on their selections!
A big thank you to everyone who applied for and showed interest in this opportunity, applicants were received from all over the country.
Jaime Reid
Jaime hails from Wanganui and is currently working on a sheep, beef, deer farm in the Central North Island. She is studying towards her certification in agriculture level 3 with Primary ITO.
She one day wants to own her own farm in the future and sees this tour as an opportunity to see other deer farms out there and is looking forward to the trip.
Emma Foss
We welcome Emma Foss on tour, Emma is currently an intern at Fairlight Station as part of the Fairlight Foundation and their work there. She is originally from a place called Aria in the mighty King Country.
On this tour Emma is looking to find out more about deer genetics and environment regulation to help her in her future farming career. Welcome Emma!
Faith McIntyre
Faith is from Ohingaiti just out of Taihape, she is currently studying towards her level 3 certificate via Primary ITO while working on the family farm Dunhaven Deer Park.
She is really keen to get into Deer Milking one day having previous experience milking sheep. She wants to use this tour to broaden her knowledge of the industry.
Libby Pannett-Millar
Libby is studying on the popular High Country Farming Programme at Otago Polytechnic, Central Campus Cromwell. She is originally from Gore and loves all things farming.
She has always had an interest in deer and once she has finished her studies would like to work in the high country with deer possibly as part of that. She would like to use this tour to learn some new skills which will help her in her farming future.
Deer Industry NZ and the NZ Deer Farmers Association would like to thank the following industry partners for their contribution during the week and for agreeing to host the group to help them learn more about our special industry;
- Alliance Group Limited, Invercargill
- Grandview Deer, Gore
- Peter and Sharon McIntyre, Benio Farm, Gore
- Peter Allan, Dipton
- Silver Fern Farms, Kennington Plant, Invercargill
- Alpine Deer, Luggate.
Here are the 5 successful applicants for this year’s Future Deer Farmers Experience 2020. These students will experience a busy week learning about deer farming to help them in their careers as future farmers from 03 – 07 August 2020. Deer Industry NZ and the NZ Deer Farmers Association welcomes you onboard!
A big thank you to everyone who applied for and showed interest in this opportunity, applicants were received from all over the country.
Here is the 2020 tour party;
Renee Wood
Renee is currently working on a sheep, beef, deer and cropping farm in Timaru, South Canterbury. She is studying towards her certification in agriculture level 4 with Primary ITO.
She sees this tour as an opportunity to learn more about technical aspects of deer farming, and in particular how to achieve high levels of performance. She is keen to learn more about velveting and genetics in deer.
Carey Pawson-Edwards
Carey is currently Junior Stock Manager with Coleridge Downs in the Rakaia Gorge, he completed his cadetship with Coleridge in 2018 and is furthering his studying with Primary ITO towards a Diploma in Agribusiness.
On this tour Carey is looking to gain valuable knowledge and innovative ideas from other deer farmers and industry experts that he can then take back to the farm to maximise production where he is responsible for finishing and supply of weaner deer.
Erika Johnstone
Erika is originally from Te Anau, Southland and is currently studying towards her level 3 certificate via the High Country Farming Programme at Otago Polytechnic, Central Campus Cromwell.
She would like to use this tour to broaden her knowledge on the industry after helping out on farm a few times with velveting as well as to learn some new skills which will help her in future.
William Bishop
William comes from South Canterbury where the home farm has deer on it. He is currently working at Awakino Station, just out of Kurow while also looking to complete his level 4 with Primary ITO. He is also a former cadet at Coleridge Downs.
Keen to learn more about the deer industry and in particular velveting, William is looking forward to seeing and experiencing what else is out there within the deer industry on this tour.
Jack Olsen
Jack is a first-year cadet out of Smedley Station and is studying towards his level 3 certification after doing 3 years of agricultural studies while at Napier Boys High. A Hawkes Bay local, any chance he gets he works with deer at Smedley he takes it.
Over the week of the tour Jack is looking forward to meeting people involved in the industry while learning more about velvet stags and the overseas markets. Good on ya Jack!
Deer Industry NZ and the NZ Deer Farmers Association would like to thank the following industry partners for their contribution during the week and for agreeing to host the group to help them learn more about our special industry;
- Venison Packers Feilding, Feilding
- Tim Coombs Deer & Stock Transport Ltd, Feilding
- Robbie Bruce, Elgin Farm, Taihape
- Taihape NZ DFA Branch
- Carl Lynch, Silver Fern Farms North Island Deer Rep
- Ohinewairua Station, Taihape
- First Light Foods, Hastings
- Progressive Leathers Ltd, Hastings
- Smedley Station and Cadet Training Farm, Waipawa
- Temco Agriculture, Waipawa.
Deer Industry NZ and the NZ Deer Farmers Association are proud to announce the following 4 successful applicants for the Future Deer Farmers Experience 2019. The students will experience an awesome week to learn more about deer farming to help them in their careers as future farmers from 19 – 22 August 2019.
A big thank you to everyone who applied for and showed interest in this opportunity, applicants were received from all over the country.
Deer Industry NZ and the NZ Deer Farmers Association would like to thank the following industry partners for their contribution during the week and for agreeing to host the group to help them learn more about our special industry;
- UB Bio Ltd, Christchurch - www.ubbio.com
- Mt Hutt Station, Methven - www.mountainrivervenison.co.nz/mt-hutt-station
- Mountain River Venison, Rakaia Plant - www.mountainrivervenison.co.nz
- Downlands Deer Transport, Geraldine - www.downlandsdeer.co.nz
- Rupert Red Deer, Peel Forest
- Light Leathers Ltd, Timaru
- Haldon Station, Mackenzie – www.haldonstation.co.nz
- The Kowhai’s Ltd, Fairlie - www.facebook.com/TheKowhais
Here are the 4 choosen students for 2019;
Mckenzie Bird
Mckenzie is currently studying at Telford campus in Balclutha for a certificate in agriculture, she is originally from North Canterbury and was drawn to farming from a young age.
A real hands-on, outdoors individual who doesn’t mind getting stuck in she is good with stock and is interested in genetics and velvet practice within the deer industry having previously had a little exposure to working with deer.
Chief Whakaue
We welcome Chief Whakaue on the Future Deer Farmers Experience, Chief is in the first year of a two year cadetship at Smedley Station, Central Hawkes Bay.
He has a lifelong dream to one day own his own farm and to become an ambassador for the agricultural industry while at the same time exposing people who don't have the opportunities he has been fortunate with to the rural lifestyle.
Kate Goodson
Kate is keen on animal health, genetics and deer management practices within the deer industry. She is studying to become a Rural Technician specialising in deer and is doing this through the Waikato Institute of Technology in 2019.
Kate believes there is great potential for future innovations within the deer sector and she would like to be part of this in the future. She has limited experience in working with deer but has found a passion for the animal via a work placement with Tower Farms in Cambridge.
Maddy Calder
Maddy is currently based in Cromwell working fulltime and studying for her level 4 in agriculture via Primary ITO. In 2018, she studied at the Otago Polytechnic completing their High Country Farming Programme level 3.
Keen to learn more about the deer industry, she one day wants to work with deer and is always looking for opportunities and challenges to develop and extend her knowledge, she sees this experience as an opportunity to do this. Welcome Maddy!
A big thank you to everyone who applied for and showed interest in our first ever Future Deer Farmers Experience, applications were received from all over the country.
Deer Industry NZ and the NZ DFA would like to thank the following industry partners for their contribution to the programme and for agreeing to host the group from 10 - 13 September 2018 to help them learn more about our special industry;
- Raroa Red Deer, Cambridge
- Landcorp Farming (Goudies Station), Reporoa
- Canes Deer & Products Ltd, Reporoa
- Silver Fern Farms Limited (Rotorua Plant)
- Alpine Deer Products, Tauranga
- CK Import Export, Te Awamutu
We are proud to announce the following 3 successful applicants, the 3 will experience an awesome week to learn more about deer farming to help them in their careers as future farmers.
The 2018 Future Deer Farmers Experience Tourists are:
Valencia Hamerton
Valencia hails from Huntly in the Waikato and is currently studying at Taratahi Ag Training Centre in Masterton, she is a high achiever and is working towards a Level 4 NZ Certificate in Ag Drystock Breeding and Farming.
Valencia thinks working with deer is ‘pretty cool’ and is looking forward to gaining more knowledge from the experience to add to her long term future in the industry.
Mikayla Simpson
We welcome from the deep south Mikayla Simpson who is from Te Anau, Southland. Mikayla studies at the Otago Polytechnic Cromwell campus and is studying in the High Country Farming Programme there.
Alongside her studies, Mikayla is currently employed at Dunstan Burn Station in St Bathans working with deer in the heart of the Maniototo. She is ultimately looking to one day become a farm manager and is keen to look at velvet in the sector.
Shaun Tahau
Shaun hails from Te Haroto on the Napier Taupo Road, Hawkes Bay. He is in his first year of a two year cadetship at Smedley Station, Central Hawkes Bay.
Shaun is high achieving student both on farm and in the classroom, he eventually one day hopes to own his own property after seeing a bit of the world. He is looking forward to learning more about the industry and what it can offer.
