Get to know us
About Us
Funding and Inspiring Agricultural
Excellence for Taranaki Students
The Trust was established in 1987 at the request of the late L.A. Alexander, a successful businessman who was passionate about agricultural education and the future of Taranaki. The Trust's mission is to invest in the future of Taranaki by providing financial assistance to students who are passionate about pursuing careers in agriculture, horticulture and veterinary science.
Who Was L.A. Alexander?
Leonard Allen Alexander was a visionary and had a healthy regard for education and community good and in his will left his Tikorangi estate and the Winthorpe Stud, a racehorse stud of significance, to the New Plymouth High School Board to create a ”training establishment for agricultural and pastoral students and generally for all purposes of an agricultural college”.
The cost of setting up an agricultural college was beyond the resources that the bequest could provide. As a result, the L.A. Alexander Agricultural College Trust was established in 1987, the land retained, the Stud sold and the income received was invested so as to fund the objects of the Trust Deed, among them to ”grant financial assistance to enable students to undergo education or any of the fields of agriculture, horticulture and all types and purposes of farming”.
The farm is used as an educational resource. It is presently leased to Faull Farms Limited. and is used as part of their large dairy farm. From time-to-time aspects of educational training, field work and research are undertaken with the Faull’s approval.
Who are the board
Ross Redpath
Agricultural Education and Project Advisor
Meet the Agricultural Education and Project advisor
Ross grew up on a sheep, beef and deer station in the eastern Bay of Plenty. After completing an Agricultural Science degree at Massey University and working on the family farm for a year, he gained a Diploma of Teaching and began a long teaching career, teaching Agriculture, Horticulture, Biology and Science – primarily at Inglewood High School where his roles included TIC Agriculture/Horticulture, Senior Dean, Principal’s Nominee, Assistant Principal and Deputy Principal.
In addition to these school roles, Ross has held a number of positions with both the Ministry of Education and NZQA, was awarded a Royal society teacher fellowship in 2004, spent 2007 seconded as a senior subject advisor (SSA) and has travelled to the USA and Europe on Agricultural education projects.
In 2023, he was appointed into the new role of Agricultural Education and Project advisor by the LA Alexander Trust – a Taranaki based trust focussing on supporting agricultural education throughout the region. This new role sees Ross working with schools, community organisations and tertiary education providers to support and promote agricultural education.