Farmtech VOLUNTEERS

Farmtech VOLUNTEERS

DUTY STATEMENT

Farmtech VOLUNTEERS

The objective of the Farmtech pavilion volunteer staff is to enhance the experience of the public in discovering how farmers use technology to grow crops and livestock, as well as ensuring the safety of the public at all times.

All volunteers are an ambassador for the Royal Agricultural Society.

Farmtech is located on the grass area overlooking the main arena close to the train Station entrance. Farmtech aims to:

• Promote better understanding of the origin of food grown in the grain belt of Western Australia.

• Close the farm and urban divide.

• Instil respect and appreciation of WA farmers.

• Highlight 21st century farming and the use of sophisticated technology.

• Showcase how farmers use this technology to grow crops and livestock for food.

• Display the evolution of farm machinery and methods.

• Show how weather patterns affect crop and livestock production.

Reporting:

The Volunteers shall report to the Farmtech pavilion steward from Saturday 26th September – Saturday 3rd October.

Hours:

Volunteering shifts are on the roster, and the Farmtech pavilion is open from 9.00am to 6.00pm each day. Please be at your shift 15 minutes before the pavilion opens.

Responsibilities:

On arrival go to the Farmtech pavilion and find your rostered area. The supervisor will be around to check that everything is running smoothly.

  • Wear the volunteer shirt or white coat supplied by the RAS.
  • Assist in preparing any activities for the marquee before it opens
  • Encourage the children to get involved with the Junior Farmer Activity Book.
  • Assist children’s and parents with any questions they have regarding the Junior Farmer Activity Book. Books are free.
  • Assist with one of the many Activity Book activation activities around the marquee.
  • Stamp the children’s Activity Book after they have completed the activation activity
  • Activity books are to stop being handed out to children at 4.00pm each day. This is to allow all children to finish the book before the pavilion closes.
  • Ensure that the children are operating equipment safely and with care
  • Ensure that your allocated area is kept clean and tidy at all times
  • Seek assistance or report any issues to the steward who will be on duty at all times within the marquee

The following educational displays and activations will teach children in an engaging and dynamic environment how farmers use technology to grow crops and livestock for food.

Weather station, pedal tractors, sheep auto drafter, and tractor ride exhibits all require stamps.

Pedal tractors (stamp required)

Volunteer 1

  • Stand at the entrance of the gate, have children queue to ride the pedal tractors.
  • Three children to be riding tractors at any one time in the area. Supervise the children riding the tractors.
  • Control the distance between the pedal tractors. Start with all 3 tractors at the start and allow the length of one pass/row space between tractors.
  • May need to direct the flow of tractor riders - there are a few points where the riders will cross over (watch for collisions).
  • Help volunteer two return tractors to the front

Volunteer 2

  • Stand at the point where the kids dismount and part from their pedal tractor. Return the tractor to Volunteer 1.
  • When children dismount, guide them to the exit.
  • All three children will exit the area around the same time and tractors are to be returned to the front of the activation before the next group enter
  • Stamp children’s activity book upon leaving the activation

Tractor ride (stamp required)

  • Supervise the children climbing into the tractor, only one child at a time.
  • Make sure the kids don’t button punch the monitor/computer.
  • The radio station buttons should not be touched as they might change the channel. They can pick up the hand piece and make a call though.
  • You do not have to help the children on or off the tractor.
  • Ask them to line up if there are a lot of children there.
  • Monitor safety at all times.
  • Help children with the activation in their junior farmer booklet if they need assistance.

Weather stations (stamp required)

  • Make sure all appliances (hair dryer) are properly plugged in.
  • Let the children play with the appliances to change the weather in the wet and dry stations. Help them to see the change on the monitors.
  • The weather electronic screens should not be turned off for the duration of the show. If they are turned off they will lose their calibration and syncing with their respective weather stations.
  • Practice safety procedures when operating.
  • Assist them with the activation in the activity book
  • Stamp the activity book when they have finished the activation.

Auto steer demonstration

  • Help children form a queue in the busy periods
  • Aid them with the GPS steering demo. There is a cheat sheet which gives instructions on how to use and reset the monitor.

Sheep auto drafter (stamp required)

All volunteers need to make sure that the head bands with EID tags do not go walkies. We only have a limited number as the tags are expensive.

Volunteer 1

  • Stand at the entrance of the sheep scales and give children the sheep ears with EID (Electronic Identification Device) tag attached.
  • Transport ‘return’ head bands back to the entrance (bucket). There needs to be a way to stop kids from running off with the head bands while you are absent.
  • Direct them up the race and into the scales
  • Help children form a queue in the busy periods

Volunteer 2

  • Load an individual child into the sheep auto drafter. Block the next child with the gate.
  • Help the kids to determine their wool micron which is displayed on the monitor. Point the kids to the right or left pen, according to their wool micron, (the pen number is displayed on the monitor and there is a sign pointing to Pen 1 and Pen 2). Pen 1 is on the left and Pen 2 on the right.

Volunteer 3

  • Collect the sheep ears from the children as they are leaving the area. Also stamp the child’s activity book upon exit. This volunteer needs to make sure that all headbands are collected and emphasise no ears no stamp. Volunteer 3 has a very important role in not letting the kids run off with the headbands.

Farm office

  • The volunteer is to provide assistance and help the children with the game.
  • It may be easier for the kids to be in the game demo mode. The full version of the game is quite technical and takes a long time to build the farm enterprise.

If you have any questions at any time please contact:

Natalie – 0411 427 618

Chloe – 0404 631 054

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