A whole raft of new courses and new Ag Drive Team Building Days facility aims to expose more people to Agriculture in a fun and safe way.
Ag Drive is the Waikato’s largest agricultural vehicle training provider and was the winner of two 2020 Waipa Business Awards for excellence in new/emerging business and the Innovation and Adaptation Award.
Located just 15 minutes from Hamilton CBD at the iconic Mystery Creek site, Ag Drive Team Building Days will give people a chance to experience agriculture first-hand in a purpose-built outdoor facility.
Guests will have the chance to off-road drive in Polaris LUVs (Light Utility Vehicles) and participate in LUV soccer, tyre-pull and digger challenges, experiencing a range of terrains and conditions in an iconic agricultural setting.
Ideal for corporates, businesses, and the general public, the Ag Drive Team Building Days venture can cater for up to 20 guests at a time.
“We wanted to bring agriculture to the wider business community. A lot of the local economy is agriculture-related yet not many people get the chance to experience it first hand,” says Andre.
“The last two years have seen teams working apart, alone, from home. Now is the time to bring everyone back together, have some fun and learn some new skills. It’s about giving more people the opportunity to get out there and give it a go, in a fun and safe environment.”
Managing Director Andre Syben says launching Ag Drive Team Building Days is the natural next step in a series of extensions for Ag Drive agricultural vehicle training.
Ag Drive recently announced some exciting new one-day courses designed to help the rural sector keep their staff safe and compliant with the latest Health and safety requirements.
New initiatives on offer include One-Day Safe Operator courses for tractors, motorbikes, quads, and side-by-side vehicles. Many employers aren’t aware that they are required to provide adequate training to their staff. Aiming to educate people on the importance of health and safety, AG Drive is also launching refresher courses that should be attended annually.
A lot of the risk involved in Agricultural machinery is due to people underestimating the machinery and overestimating their skill level. In an effort to reduce this risk Ag Drive has also launched Operator Competency assessments. Employers can send their new staff through to be assessed on their entire range of machinery so that both the employer and staff can be aware of what extra training is required.
The new courses are a culmination of the feedback from the primary sector received over the last 2 years
“Our training is interactive, industry-leading but also fun. The phrase, “Health and Safety” doesn’t need to be something that’s feared says director Andre Syben. “We have invested heavily in tractors, machinery, bikes, and side-by-sides and our commitment is to get people trained and safe in the industry. The statistics for on-farm injuries are simply horrific and we are here to do something about it “
The Mystery Creek site with its rolling terrain replicates real on-farm situations and the experienced tutors work alongside participants and tailor the course to their personal training needs.
Everyone is different says head tutor Les Waghorn “what works for one individual or group may not work for another as past experience dictates the type of training they may require”
Ag Drive also has a nationwide mobile training service available for groups that may be unable to come to their Mystery Creek site so it’s not just a Waikato-based service says Syben.
Ag Drive is also rolling out two-day secondary school courses in 2023. Course costs have been reduced to help schools get on board. It is our way of giving something to the industry says Syben.
If you are keen to learn and discover more call 0508 AG DRIVE or email paulasyben@agtechnz.com or go to their website www.agdrive.co.nz
