Esperance SHS has two farms: The Esperance Farm Training Centre on Dempster Road, Nerridup and the "Demo" Block.

Esperance Farm Training Centre

The High School is most fortunate to have an 800 hectare fully operating school farm, 35 kilometres out of town, the Esperance SHS Farm Training Centre, and a four hectare agricultural demonstration block (the 'Demo' Block) attached to the main school.

The Farm Training Centre is a fully commercial operating farm, with a number of successful enterprises, including broad acre wheat, barley, oats and lupin production, sheep and cattle raising.

Agricultural students compete at many local and rural agricultural shows and are consistently high achievers at the annual Perth Agricultural Royal Show and the Esperance and other regional shows held annually.

The Esperance Senior High School Farm Training Centre is part of the Western Australian College of Agriculture. Students can undertake agricultural traineeships whilst still at school, giving them vital industry experience. Students gain dual accreditation at the end of their schooling that includes TAFE certification and the Western Australian Certificate of Education.

Contact:

Esperacne Farm Training Centre
Dempster Rd NERIDUP
PO Box 465
ESPERANCE WA 6450

Ph: (08) 9078 2064 | Fax: (08) 9078 2063
E-mail: Esperance.FTC.Admin@education.wa.edu.au

"Excellence and Innovation in Agricultural Education"

The "Demo" Block

The Demo Block is an on-site farm covering 2.4 hectares. The Demo Block is home to poultry, cattle and sheep. Fresh produce is also grown, including: fruit trees, vegetables, herbs and a new bush tucker garden.  Students at the demo block may also choose to be part of the cattle team that competes at the local show or the Perth Royal Show. Students are encouraged to enter growing categories at the local show.

All Year 7 students are provided the opportunity to do Agriculture as taster unit for one term. Year 9 and 10 Options include Agriculture. The course features a large amounts of practical work complemented by a theoretical component.

Students learn about many aspects of agriculture at the Demo Block including:

• Animal care: design a rabbit hutch for backyard, caring for the animals - cleaning pens, yard work, feeding, weighing.
• Growing fruit, vegetable and herbs: organic, sustainable, best plants for local conditions, health and nutrition.
• Running a produce shop
• Cooking produce, eggs
• Showmanship skills and showing  stock or produce at agricultural shows
• Worm farming
• Understanding agriculture: weeds, soil, fertilizers, chemicals, watering, history of ag in Esperance, stock diseases and parasites, plant/crop diseases and parasites, trees, permaculture and aquaculture.
• Aboriginal foods
• Farm safety

Overall the Demo block provides students a broad taste of agriculture so they can make informed choices about entering the field of agriculture as a career and/or furthering their education at the Esperance Farm Training Centre. For others, the learnt knowledge and skills will allow them to utilise their backyards for sustainable production of food and fibre.   

ORIGO Farm. EFTC Weather Station