Scholarship gives time to play as well as study

He has found his degree to be a great blend of agriculture and business, while the scholarship has allowed him to relax and make friends outside of the lecture theatre.

Receiving $5000 per annum for up to three years reduced the amount he needed to borrow and "allowed me to play rugby, as I haven’t needed to find a part time job while studying”.

"Playing for Lincoln has been great to keep the fitness up and to meet lots of new people. It’s a great balance to study," Archie said.

The scholarship assists students of Lincoln's Bachelor of Agribusiness and Food Marketing who plan to build a career in a land-based industry, and is specifically for those with an urban background.

Applications close for the 2023 scholarship intake on 1 October.

Archie went to school at St Peter’s in Cambridge.

“While I am not from a farm, both my parents work in the primary sector and I have had a lot of exposure to the importance of agriculture to New Zealand. I studied agriculture at school and knew I wanted to continue that at university.

"I was considering a few universities, but Lincoln offered me the best options due to its focus as a land-based university."

He is clear about his, and about the country’s future.

"New Zealand has such an opportunity to grab hold of the sustainable food production narrative and own it on a global stage.

"I am excited to potentially be a part of that. I think we often concentrate on the challenges facing New Zealand agriculture, like water quality, climate emissions and the increasing costs of production.

"However, we are also well placed to quickly meet consumer demands for things like low carbon products and regenerative farming practices. I feel like the opportunities are endless and I am looking forward to being a part of that journey."

He is enjoying learning about the primary sector.

"I am loving it and Lincoln was absolutely the right choice for me. I have met so many people and have really enjoyed my studies so far.

"I have been surprised at how much I have enjoyed the food marketing component of my degree. It was entirely new, and I am looking forward to the next couple of years as I start exploring that in more detail. 

"I am very grateful to Sir Graeme for providing this scholarship to students like me, as well as his support of young people studying food marketing."

 Image: Archie (left) rises high to compete for the ball in a recent game for Lincoln University.