When well-known Cleve farmer Gordon Sims passed away in 1960, he left quite a legacy.
In his will, Mr Sims bequeathed his farm to the state government.
Conditions of the bequest were that it be made available to the Department of Agriculture to use as a training farm, research centre or seed grain farm.
It has become the cornerstone of the renowned agricultural program at Cleve Area School, which sees students from throughout the state making use of Sims Farm.
It is a mixed farming enterprise on 350 hectares, running about 350 Poll Merino sheep and growing a variety of crops.
Agriculture students make the most of Sims Farm, accruing many of the hours needed to complete a Certificate 2 in Agriculture.
Year 11 and 12 students use the farm to complete their SA Certificate of Education.
Cleve Area School principal Ray Marino believes the diversity of students from across the state is indicative of the standard of their agriculture program.
“The quality of the course is what brings students from all around SA,” Mr Marino said. “It is the only program in the area that offers dryland farming and sheep.
“We try to be ahead of the pack in regards to trying new things.
“The program has an excellent reputation among farmers in SA.
“Like when a child is learning to drive and their parents get them driving lessons, when a farming families child needs to learn agriculture, they send them here.”
Mr Marino said students were also involved in the National Merino Challenge, Royal Adelaide Show, the Eyre Peninsula Field Days and the Cleve Show.
“We are quite involved in the community and the community is quite involved with us,” he said. “We have 11 boarders at the boarding house as well as more who board in the community.
“The committee operating Sims Farm is made up of members of the community, ex and current students, parents of students, and staff, with some having been involved for more than 25 years.
“Together we are all helping to educate the food producers of the future.”
- Details: cleveas.sa.edu.au