The most valuable things I learned at university were how to organise an event – this taught me the art of delegation.

         I also learned the ineffectiveness of the lecture as a teaching tool. For many years, in many countries, I carried out recall trials to confirm this finding.

         For many years I chaired the Massey University Capping Ball committee. I volunteered to do this job because it was early in the year and I felt at least I had made a contribution and could get on with my studies.

         Features of these balls were a great dance band, expensive prizes for events, and a continuous supper.

         This experience helped me take a major step in my career when I set up Waitara Farm Schools. Let me explain.

         I was the junior adviser in the Whanganui district so when transferred to the senior job in Taranaki I had some concerns.

         When I first arrived in New Plymouth. I had hardly sat down in my office when two farmers called to see if I would set up a farmer discussion group in the Tarki district. The spokesman Bob Mantey said, “We had great respect for your predecessor, so we thought we would like to break you in.”

         By setting up groups throughout the district of  say eight to a dozen farmers,  each with an organise leader – I learned much from them.

         These groups were very flexible. We would meet say once a month to inspect a farm.

         The farmer usually produced his monthly production graph and his returns for the group to discuss before we inspected the farm and made suggestions on ways improvements could be made.

         Often a struggling farmer would be invited to join a group to be supported and encouraged. Frequently they would be lent any equipment  needed.

         Farming is one industry where competitive producers are willing to share their secrets with one another for the good of the industry and the country.

         When working in Taranaki I inherited some run-down farm schools from my predecessor. I decided to organise one decent one, rather than half a dozen small events.

         I selected the small town Waitara, famous for its river and its large freezing works giving work to much of the people in the town.

         Apart from its central location it had one great advantage, a sports centre containing a large indoor basket ball court next to an auditorium and it had a large car park.

         In my new job I was seconded to the Provincial Executive of Federated Farmers. With their financial support and help I set up an annual farm school at Waitara.  After it took off it became the biggest farmers’ meeting in the country at that time. The first day was for dairy farmers and the second day was for sheep and beef farmers.

         In a good year there would be an attendance of 1,500 to 1,700 farmers over the two days.

         The recipe for its success was simple. We dealt with farmer’ topical concerns. Long lectures were banned. Ten minutes was the longest anyone was allowed to speak.

         We set up panels of speakers to deal with farmers concerns. We invited the top authority on the topic being discussed to share their recommendations.         Questions and answers were the feature of these meetings.

         We selected the chairperson with great care and briefed them well.

         These meetings were given maximum publicity both before and after the event – there was even an advertising supplement in the local newspaper the ‘Taranaki Daily News.’

         Each meeting was evaluated to see if we could make improvements the following year.         Much of the criticism was not on the content of the meeting but on the  physical welfare of the audience – the seats were too hard, or the tea was not hot enough.

         We developed a cunning scheme to deal with large numbers at lunch time. We brought in professional caterers.  A lunch was set out in the adjoining basketball hall and the doors were thrown open. We didn’t charge people for going in, thus alleviating large queues.  We charged them when they drifted out after they had finished their meal.    

         One of the hardest things was to determine the top local farmer concerns. This was done by consulting farmers at Federated Farmers meetings and through the many discussions groups I attended throughout the region.          

         Those were the days!  Of all the jobs I have held being a Farm Adviser was the task I enjoyed most. Farm Advisers were ‘farmer missionaries’. We were paid to visit our friends and we learned so much from them.

         It was a sad day for New Zealand when the Department of Agriculture was closed down and the field and information staff were all made redundant.

Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)

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