Mr Walker is excited about the upcoming dairy season – the first on his own farm – as it will facilitate growth in his Farm 4 Life app as he partners with Telford to deliver the Certificate in Farming Systems and Equipment (Level 3), which is made up of two qualifications: the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Farming Systems) (Level 3) and the New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industry Operational Skills (Level 3).
Farm 4 Life combines real-world farming and strong social media reach with app-based, video-first qualifications, designed for hands-on learners. Mr Walker reveals his motivation has always been to give young people a realistic view of farming and reduce “culture shock” before they enter the workforce. “I don’t want people to be shocked when they get on a dairy farm and realise they've got to get up early. I want them to be prepared for employment,” he explains.
“Our qualifications are delivered in a way that’s never been done before. It’s app‑based and completely video-led, so learners don’t have to read through resources.”
“A lot of the people best suited to farming are practical learners. This style of learning plays to their natural strengths… I was one of those learners, …which is why it's a huge passion for me to spend the last five to seven years getting this app to where it is.”
Mr Walker has built up a significant following, with Farm 4 Life being a recognised, trusted brand. “Across all our platforms we’ve got about 360,000 followers; people tune in every day to see real farming, real life, and real challenges.”
“We’re reaching millions of people through video views, both in New Zealand and internationally.”
Mr Walker points to the app’s advantages of immediacy and responsiveness for the learner. “The tutor is literally in your pocket. The help is there instantly, not two weeks later.” And if new material is required, “Instead of rewriting thousands of booklets, we can add a single video and update the learning immediately.”
Using a blended delivery format for the qualifications, Mr Walker can move ahead with plans to continue growing the app, supported with the industry knowhow of Telford, who will manage the programme’s administration, assessment, and access to expert agricultural tutors.
“Working with farm professionals who understand the industry is huge. This partnership lets tutors focus on supporting and mentoring students, while the app delivers the learning content.”
The farming systems programmes contain a strong emphasis on equipment operation and health & safety, with the first unit providing a substantial personal wellbeing component, covering sleep, nutrition, mental health, and dealing with isolation. “We’re teaching people how to handle equipment safely — motorbikes, tractors, side by sides, quads — but we’re also teaching them how to look after themselves,” Mr Walker says, explaining if young person isn’t well‑rested, well‑fed, and supported, they can become a safety risk on the farm.
“That’s why wellbeing is built into the qualifications from day one, so they’re not relying on energy drinks when they're feeling tired and actually getting sleep. They need a proper meal rather than caffeine… and proper food, not instant noodles.”
He also suggests the immediate, in-app support for learners could change the student-tutor relationship. “It should take the heavy lifting off tutors by giving students access to resources from professionals all across New Zealand.”
Mr Walker acknowledges there’s been a limit to what he can cover in his well-known ‘edutainment’ videos showing daily life on a dairy farm, because he didn’t own the farm. “Now that we've got the farm, we can deliver education through engaging, real, on‑farm content - and encourage more young people into farming and have it as their chosen career once leaving school.”
“The goal is for Farm 4 Life to be the preferred way farmers upskill their staff, because we can adapt instantly as the industry evolves.”
Telford Head of Faculty, Hamish Small, says the partnership demonstrates how to provide flexible learning to the primary industries. “We have owners and managers like Tangaroa on farm utilising blended delivery, supported by the quality oversight and industry knowledge of Telford.”
He noted the state-of-the-art development the app has undergone over the last couple of years. “It’s come a long way in terms of the latest technology; there’s better engagement as a blended delivery tool and it’s more interactive which is a credit to the development team.”
Implementing the certificate programmes is timely for the primary industries, Mr Small says. “It highlights the importance of having qualifications needed for employers and also does what it needs to for the employee; Telford is expanding by providing a service for those within industry wanting to take the next steps in farming.”
Mr Small added that Telford will continue to focus on supporting primary industry training nationally, with particular emphasis placed on the South Island and southern region.
The Certificate in Farming Systems and Equipment aligns with the beginning of the new dairy season and starts on 8th June. Enrol now!
Telford is a campus of Southern Institute of Technology (SIT)