Monday, 5 March 2018
The journey from a Southland Dairy farm to Ravensdown
One-time dairy farmer Tim Sneddon is among 12 candidates who are taking part in Ravensdown's popular Development Programme, now in its fourth year.
The Southland dairy farm manager is looking for a change in career direction to agriculture consultancy.
Tim's agricultural journey started on his parents' sheep and beef farm in Southland before studying at Lincoln University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture and Soil Science.
After his studies, Tim went back home to the now converted family dairy farms, where he spent several seasons building up his farm knowledge and progressing into a farm management role.
"I'm particularly proud of increasing production on our farm by 30 percent and decreasing costs during some tough seasons," Tim says.
"However, I've always been keen to move into consultancy. I think my background experience as a farmer and knowledge of soil science will give me a well-rounded approach to helping farmers as a consultant."
Tim says he was encouraged to apply to the Ravensdown programme because of its environmental consultancy and innovations.
Gordon McCormick, Training Manager and Mentor at Ravensdown, is looking forward to the largest intake of new participants starting and developing their skills over the next six months throughout the programme.
The Ravensdown Development Programme is a great way to start a career in agriculture and a great way to gain exposure to different parts of the business. The people within the agri-sector make it what it is, which is why we invest in teaching the participants the practical and theoretical insights of the business.
During the six-month programme, the graduates will learn about all aspects of the Ravensdown business. This includes time spent in the field, working within the supply chain and environmental teams, and completing numerous internal and external short university courses, including the first stage of their Intermediate Sustainable Nutrient Management (ISNM) qualification.
