From small beginnings in rooms at a Whanganui veterinary clinic, Ag Challenge has grown to become one of the major drivers in agricultural education in New Zealand.
While the company celebrates 25 years as an official PTE (Private Training Enterprise), Ag Challenge has been producing skilled staff for farmers throughout the country far longer.
The company pretty much began as a small cottage industry-style business upskilling workers to help fill a growing void in the agricultural workforce.
Back in those days Whanganui farmer Stephen Gudsell offered skills training in the dairy and equine fields and placing workers on farms.
With help from mate and fellow farmer Jeremy Higgie, Mr Gudsell added sheep and beef to the curriculum and in 1992 Ag Challenge became a fully-registered PTE able to officially deliver NZQA-approved courses to students.
Upstairs rooms at Wanganui Veterinary Services provided the classrooms.
"Vet Dave Barton was one of my first tutors teaching agriculture and then Nick England was my first full time tutor," Mr Gudsell recalled.
In those early days Ag Challenge added carpentry, automotive (which is no longer offered), vet nursing, animal care and large animal technician courses.
A new home base with classrooms was opened in Victoria Ave with many of the hands-on training done on-farm at Mr Gudsell's own dairy units in Okoia.
The entire operation has since moved to Okoia taking full advantage of of Mr Gudsell's two dairy farms and run-off property, although the vet nursing elements remain based at Wanganui Veterinary Services in Somme Pde.
The sterling work Ag Challenge has put in over the years was rewarded recently when it was chosen to be at the forefront of changes to the country's certification.
Ag Challenge is in the front seat in the drive to deliver a new set of internationally-recognised agricultural qualifications.
Last year the Whanganui-based private training enterprise began rolling out an exciting new suite of qualifications in agriculture as a direct result of a NZQA-led Targeted Review of Qualifications or TRoQ.
This included extensive industry consultation with the agriculture sector at large to advise on new and updated qualifications for the agriculture industry. All previous national certificates or diplomas are being replaced by New Zealand certificates and New Zealand diplomas and phased out over the next couple of years.
The exercise is all about the quality assurance New Zealand can give the rest of the world in regard to our agricultural education standards.
"There have been a lot of people involved over the years and it would not have been possible without their support, including farmers, tradespeople, staff and the Wanganui Vet Club," Mr Gudsell said.
In recognition of that support, Mr Gudsell has returned the favour in the form of sponsorship of community-based initiatives, mainly in the sporting field.
Ag Challenge sponsors a wide range of sporting endeavours.
"It's part of our philosophy and a way of paying back a community that has supported us over the years."
Ag Challenge has sponsorship arrangements in the majority of mainstream sports, thoroughbred racing, which is a particular passion of Mr Gudsell, and other community-based charities.
"Our sponsorships have always been youth-aligned and focussed such as the Under 13 rep tennis, U16 Wanganui rugby and school sports teams like rugby."
Mr Gudsell declined to put a figure on sponsorship, but did concede it added up over the years.