Agricultural Scholarships

Jeff Farm is a 2,360ha farm managed by The Salvation Army that trains (and funds training for) young people for a career in the New Zealand agricultural industry.

Jeff Farm is on Old Coach Road between Mataura and Clinton. The property—highly regarded as a top southern farm—is managed by Mike Benton (Farm Manager) and Tarryn Benton (Farm Administrator) for The Salvation Army Trust Board.

In August 2017, the farm was recognised as the best farm in the country for training the next generation of farmers. The farm won the Silver Fern Farms Sheep Industry Trainer of the Year award at the Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Sheep Industry Awards.

Scholarship scheme: Edmund Sanderson Jeff Farm Training Award

Mr Edmund Jeff farmed the property before World War II with help from local labour. Times were tough and he was not able to develop the property, so he gifted the farm to The Salvation Army on the provision that the farm be used to train young people for a career in the New Zealand agricultural industry.

In 1995 The Salvation Army had the terms of the Trust expanded with the High Court approving a decision that, while some students would still be trained at the farm, the income could be used to educate young people for a life in agriculture at other approved training establishments.

Eligibility criteria

Applications for assistance will be considered from young people who want to be trained in and/or further educated in farming and require assistance on account of their financial situation, their existing environment or their state of health.

• Applicants must be full-time students undertaking a diploma or certificate – this award is not for students studying extramurally.
• Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents.

2023 Scholarship Application Forms & Interviews

The two Institutions the Jeff Farm Training Award applies to are Lincoln University and Telford, a faculty of the Southern Institute of Technology.

For application forms, please see file downloads at foot of the page.

2023 Open day

Open Day for 2023 to be held on Saturday 5th August at 10am.

 

 

 

Candidates to submit applications directly to:

Beverley Pattinson    
Jeff Farm Scholarship Coordinator            
The Salvation Army Southern Divisional Headquarters
2 Avenger Crescent, Wigram        
Christchurch 8042
    
Emailing your application is acceptable as long as it is signed by the applicant (you may need to scan)
Email: Beverley Pattinson

Cadetships at Jeff Farm

Cadets at Jeff Farm will experience all aspects of farming. The successful cadet must:

• have a genuine interest in farming and the agriculture sector
• be able to listen and follow instructions responsibly when instructed by other staff
• be health and safety conscious - health and safety is a BIG issue on the farm in all aspects
• have an ability to drive/learn to drive all types of vehicles and hold a current driver's license
• have an ability to work and live with other cadets in a healthy and friendly environment

Cadetship applications are to be forwarded to:

Mike and Tarryn Benton
Email: Jeff Farm

Original documents to be posted to:

Mike and Tarryn Benton
Managers
Jeff Farm
Kaiwera
RD 2
Gore 9772