Graduates arrive for an immersive internship

From Surfing for Farmers to Fieldays: Graduates arrive for an immersive internship at Ballance Agri-Nutrients

The next generation of Ballance Agri-Nutrients (Ballance) specialists have arrived at the company’s national support centre to complete an intensive training programme via an eight-week internship.  

The six interns will be initially based in Mount Maunganui, then connect with a Ballance mentor anywhere from Northland to Otago, to experience everything from 4WD driver training to soil testing, creating nutrient management plans for Ballance customers and taking part in the Surfing for Farmers programme.  

Ballance General Manager Customer Jason Minkhorst says the paid internship is part of the organisation’s commitment to grow the expertise and capability of new graduates coming into the sector.  

“We have some of the best and brightest who have demonstrated a real desire for working the agricultural sector. For us, it’s about investing in them, so they’re set up to offer expert and specialist advice right from the start,” he says.  

“It’s a fun, challenging eight weeks for the interns and we provide wraparound support, mentorship and access to just about every aspect of what we do here at Ballance, so they’re getting a completely hands on experience with different parts of the business.”  

Former head prefects and graduates in the top ten per cent of their university studies make up this year’s ‘cream of the crop’, with most having recently completed their studies in agribusiness and many coming from farming backgrounds.  

One of the interns, Ffion White a 21-year-old from Bulls also received a Ballance Agri-Nutrients scholarship to complete her three-year Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Massey University.  

“I come from a sheep and beef farm in Bulls, my mum is a vet technician, so agriculture was always something I wanted to pursue – my parents were super proud when they found out that I’d be placed on the internship programme.  

“I’m really interested in sustainable farming practices and keen to make the most of the opportunity and learn as much as I can,” she says. 

At the end of the programme, the six interns reconnect again at National Fieldays in Hamilton, where they meet and greet farmers at the Ballance exhibition stand.   

This is the fifth year that the programme has been running with many current Ballance nutrient specialists having previously completed the internship. After the eight-week programme, the interns remain at Ballance where they are supported into a permanent role within the organisation.