B+LNZ has partnered with NZ Young Farmers to revive the B+LNZ Food & Fibre Discovery Challenge during the Southern and Central Field Days, highlighting career opportunities across the sector for school students.
B+LNZ’s ‘Food & Fibre Discovery Challenge’ is an interactive way of highlighting the many careers within the food and fibre sector to school pupils, leavers and career changers, with a smaller challenge for Primary School students.
NZ Young Farmers Membership Coordinator Special Projects & Events Tilly Barker says, “We’re so excited to partner with Beef + Lamb New Zealand and have the opportunity to showcase the diverse food and fibre sector to the next generation. The Food and Fibre Discovery Challenge is a great, fun way for businesses to connect and share their passions with young people. We can’t wait to get into it.”
In a Scavenger Hunt or Bingo style format, the challenge has school students looking around for signs with different career labels and completing exhibitors’ tasks in a fact-finding mission to explore the sector. These careers included anything from an Agri-Manager to an Excavator Operator.
The first challenge was held at the 2020 Southern Field Days in Waimumu. Since then, it’s popped up across the country and has had thousands of students complete.
Olivia Weatherburn, B+LNZ’s National Extension Programme Manager says it is fantastic to see so many businesses take part as either a career stop or sector/training activities.
“Businesses have been really supportive and can see the value in showcasing the variety of roles within agriculture to our future workforce.
“Many schools and students already attend field days, so the challenge provides them with more structure to the day and enables them to learn about primary sector career opportunities in a practical and engaging way,” she says.
Entry is free and open to all attendees.
The B+LNZ Food & Fibre Discovery Challenge will run during Southern Field Days on 14-16 February 2024 and Central Districts Field Days on 14-16 March 2024.
Sign up
- Exhibitors can sign up here.
- Schools can sign up here.