For five farming cadets graduating yesterday after two years at Smedley Station it could have been the start of the Lincoln College class of 2015 as they listened to the man who will head their development over the next few years.
At the lectern at the annual graduation ceremony, attended by about 200 family and friends of the 22 first and second-year cadets, was Lincoln University senior lecturer in farm management Russell Cameron.
Mr Cameron grew up in Hawke's Bay, and was a Hastings Boys High School pupil in 1963-67.
In his audience were five cadets capping their cadetships with Rabobank Farm Bursaries to kick off their Diploma of Agriculture studies at the campus on the outskirts of Christchurch in the new year.
They, and other cadets heading to the southern campus, are on the road to a variety of agribusiness roles, from traditional farming to consultancy and leadership roles, with strong words from Mr Cameron on the changing roles and how to prepare for them.