Black Hawk is proud to support Growing Future Farmers, an immersive NZQA-accredited programme helping young people build practical farming skills and long-term careers in agriculture.
As New Zealand’s rural sector looks to the future, supporting and developing the next generation of farmers has never been more important. That’s why Black Hawk is proud to support Growing Future Farmers, an immersive NZQA-accredited programme helping young people build practical farming skills and long-term careers in agriculture.
Designed for school leavers with a passion for farming, the two-year programme places participants with experienced farmers across New Zealand, where they gain hands-on experience working on real farms. Alongside day-to-day farm work, students also take part in regular training sessions covering key practical skills including stock work, shearing and working dog training.
For many young farmers, one of the most important partnerships they develop during the programme is with their farm dog. Strong, capable working dogs are an essential part of New Zealand farming life, helping farmers manage stock across demanding terrain and long days on farm.
“You’ve got to put in the work with the dog outside of the days to get the result otherwise it’s in one ear and out the other.”
Gavin – Growing Future Farmers Student
To help support that relationship from the very beginning, students in the programme are often allocated a pup early in their training journey. Through dedicated puppy training days and ongoing guidance from experienced trainers, participants learn the foundations of raising, training and working alongside a farm dog.
Black Hawk is proud to support these future farmers – and their dogs – throughout the programme by helping provide quality nutrition and practical education around responsible dog care.
Supporting the next generation of working dogs.
Farm dogs are hardworking, intelligent and highly active companions that require balanced nutrition to help support their energy, strength and recovery. Throughout the programme, participating students receive Black Hawk dog food and nutritional guidance to help give their pups the best possible start.
Black Hawk representatives also regularly visit training sessions to discuss feeding guidelines, monitor the pups’ growth and support students as they learn more about responsible dog ownership, including topics such as parasite prevention, bedding and transitioning dogs through different life stages.
The partnership reflects Black Hawk’s ongoing commitment to supporting rural communities and recognising the important role working dogs play on farms across New Zealand and Australia.
Building strong partnerships on and off the farm.
A successful farm dog partnership is built on trust, consistency and daily commitment. For students in the programme, raising and training a working dog also helps build confidence, patience and leadership skills that will support them throughout their farming careers.
The practical, hands-on nature of the programme allows students to see firsthand how nutrition, training and care all contribute to a dog’s long-term health and performance.
By supporting Growing Future Farmers, Black Hawk is helping invest in the future of farming while also helping ensure the next generation of working dogs receives the nutrition they need to thrive.
Nutrition designed for hardworking dogs
Working dogs have unique nutritional needs due to the physical demands placed on them every day. Black Hawk’s Working Dog formula is specifically developed to help support sustained energy, lean muscle development and overall wellbeing. Made with high-quality proteins and balanced nutrition, the formula is designed to help active dogs maintain condition and performance throughout demanding workloads, while supporting healthy joints, skin and coat condition.
Through partnerships like Growing Future Farmers, Black Hawk continues its commitment to supporting the people, dogs and communities at the heart of rural life.
More information about Black Hawk dog foods here.
More information about the Growing Future Farmers programme here.