Organized by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), Business South, Total Harvesting, and Total Transport, the event aimed to highlight the diverse range of opportunities in the rural sector beyond just farming. MSD regional labour marketing adviser Emilia St Baker emphasized that rural work encompasses much more than just working with cows and sheep, including horticulture, logging, transport, and spraying.
The open day was not limited to young people, as office workers looking for a change of pace were also encouraged to explore new career options in the rural sector. Companies went all out to attract potential employees, with some offering virtual reality experiences to showcase their machinery operations and others providing joystick-controlled simulators for hands-on demonstrations.
One school pupil, Logan Oke, had the opportunity to try out a harvester simulator from Mike Hurring Logging and Contracting and likened the experience to playing a video game. Despite the fun, he acknowledged that the real thing would be a different challenge altogether.
Overall, the Taieri Rural Open Day provided a valuable insight into the diverse opportunities available in the rural sector, catering to individuals of all ages and backgrounds looking to make a change in their career paths.
laine.priestley@alliedpress.co.nz
