Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre is on Monday launching the latest of its so-called 'taster courses' - allowing young people four days to get a feel for the life in agriculture and for that of studying.
The taster courses have been a feature of Taratahi for as many years as anyone can remember and it's believed are just about unique in New Zealand tertiary education.
Taratahi spokesperson Yvonne Way says it's a big thing for young people to commit to full-time study.
"We try and get them to do as much as possible with the time they're here: quadbikes, chainsawing, fencing, working with stock, they spend time at the home farm dairy unit and with the sheep and beef operations as well."
Ms Way says most students, fairly early on, get an idea of whether they prefer to work in dairy, or sheep and beef.
She says about 70 percent of the up to 60 students on each taster course go on to full-time study at Taratahi.