At Macintyre High School our Agricultural Science and Primary Industries Programs offer students an education rich in opportunity based on practical experiences, industry exposure, vocational qualifications and network formations.
Our school offers Agriculture and Primary Industries as elective subjects on an extensive well equipped school farm. The Primary Industries course is part of the Vocational Education Training (VET) Package and involves farm trips and "hands on" experience with many aspects of farming including sheep management, beef cattle and steer show preparation, cattle handling, fencing, tractor and machinery operation.
Students work at the school farm and on nearby leased blocks which feature our show steers, and livestock from our Swanbrook Charolais, Murray Grey and White Suffolk studs. We also farm 12ha of land to summer and winter crops and maintain 4kms of fencing. We also have chickens and vegetable gardens.
Macintyre High School based the Charolais stud on Palgrove bloodlines with an infusion of Gobongo and Boongatti. We have commenced an A.I program to improve our targeted traits of milking, structural soundness (especially hooves) and good temperament genetics. Temperament is essential with many students being around the cattle requiring tolerance and calm from the cows.
Year 8 to Year 12
At Macintyre, students can study agriculture as an elective from Year 8 to Year 12. They can also elect to do Certificate I in Agri-foods in Year 9 and / or Year 10 and Certificate II or Certificate III in Agriculture in Year 10, 11 & 12. Some students elect to sit the HSC in primary industries in their Preliminary year, making Year 12 less stressful. We have students involved in an AGCAPS scholarship program which helps provide a pathway to tertiary rural education.
Every year a number of students undertake a School Based Traineeship or Apprenticeship in Agriculture which gives them more ‘on the job’ experience. We regularly attend field days and workshops on a wide range of agricultural pursuits including weeds, chemical usage, careers, artificial breeding, soil health and MSA grading.
Our agricultural students enjoy an excellent reputation with presentation, industry knowledge, team work, livestock handling and interpersonal skills. Many students, past and present, achieve careers in the industry particularly with local studs and properties.
Show Livestock Team
Macintyre High School’s Show Livestock Team has been competing for nine years with strong numbers of students participating at show every year. We compete at several New England shows, namely Glen Innes, Inverell, Armidale, Barraba and Bingara. We also attend the Sydney Royal Easter Show and Royal Brisbane Show (EKKA), North Coast Nationals at Lismore, Tenterfield Beef Bonanza, Casino Beef Week, the Northern Schools’ Steer Show and Rockhampton Beef Week.
Our students are committed to their show preparation attending cattle handling after school twice a week, weekends and often in the school holidays. The students enjoy the confidence cattle handling brings along with the showing etiquette, ringcraft and public speaking skills. We enjoy much community support as well as P & C and school support. Any interested and committed student can attend this extra-curricular activity from Year 7 to Year 12.
Sheep
Macintyre High School has been exhibiting sheep for six years at the National Merino Sheep Show and Sale at Dubbo in August participating in the Wether Challange. We also recently acquired an Alfoxton ram kindly donated by Kyobra Station, Uralla and are in the process of forming a foundation flock stud using Waveley Downs and New England ewes.
We also established a White Suffolk stud seven years ago and have purchased Baringa and Tattykeel rams to focus on breeding torpedo shaped, high growth rate, low birthweight and meaty sheep. The show team exhibit at The Royal Sydney Show, Glen Innes show and Dubbo show to showcase the school stock and learn about industry moves and consumer trends.
Worldskills competitions
Students have enjoyed successes at Worldskills competitions, VET Regional and State Awards, Breed Society Youth Camps and many have been recipients of industry based scholarships. Our public school students gain real world opportunities and skills in industry which are valuable for employers as well as preparing them for tertiary education.
Extension Programs
- Property Planning Competition with Local Land Services (Yrs 9 to 12)
- Northern Schools Steer Competition
- CSC Show Sterr Beefest Glen Innes
- Casino Beef Week
- Dubbo Show - National White Suffolk Show
- Dubbo National Merino Ram Show & Sale Wether Challenge
- Royal Sydney Show
- Royal Brisbane Show (EKKA)
- Local agricultural shows - Inverell, Warialda, Glen Innes, Bingara, Armidale
- Prime Lamb Show for Northern Schools
- RYAG participants - Wool
- Northcoast Nationals
- National Merino Ram Show & Sale Dubbo
- New England Merino Show & Sale Armidale
- Rockhampton Beef Expo
