"The best thing I've cooked is probably bacon and egg pie," he laughed, when asked about his specialty dish.
McIntyre is a member of Dannevirke Young Farmers.
He was part of the team who helped set up Pukemiro Station to host the East Coast FMG Young Farmer of the Year regional final.
McIntyre has his sights set on competing in the contest one day.
Each cadet receives a young heading pup, which they will begin training later in the year.
The dog will be a vital asset as they muster sheep and cattle off Pukemiro's hills. They'll get a full trained huntaway at the start of their second year.
"There's a lot to learn, but it's quite exciting when you get amongst it. They're all key skills you'll need to know once you're out on your own," he said.
McIntyre hopes to secure a shepherding job once he completes his cadetship, then start working his way up the ranks. His end goal is to lease or buy a farm.
Pukemiro Station is owned by the ADB Williams Trust and has focused on training young agricultural sheep and beef students since 2014, before becoming a cadet training farm last year.