Kelsie Gibbons

Kelsie was a Year 12 student at Marlborough Girls’ College when she enrolled in the Trades Academy Primary Industries course. Kelsie has always had an interest in farming and has a love of animals especially dogs and pups.

Kelsie enjoyed her Primary Industries course, especially because she had the opportunity to find out more about the many different types of farming, including marine farming, forestry and viticulture. The Trades Academy course helped Kelsie to learn new skills and gave her confidence to continue her agricultural studies.

After her year in Trades Academy, Kelsie enrolled in the Gateway programme at school and began studying agriculture and animal health through Telford Agricultural College. She also gained valuable work experience in a busy mixed farm in the Awatere Valley. During this work placement she was able to put into practice some of the skills she had learnt as part of her Trades Academy programme.

Kelsie is currently attending Telford Agricultural College in South Otago where she is studying towards a Certificate in Agriculture. Kelsie’s goal is to complete the certificate course this year and then enrol in the Diploma in Agriculture in 2018. Kelsie continues to learn new skills and is gaining industry experience on a variety of farms in the Otago region.