New Holland brand ambassador role a chance to promote value of ag and opportunities for secure, thriving future
As we start preparing for the end of another year, I can say 2023 was certainly a big one for myself and my family. After having the honour of winning the FMG Young Farmer of the Year – and being the first woman to do so - I have been presented with some amazing opportunities to travel around the country, speaking to farmers and other industry stakeholders, and sharing in their experiences and unique perspectives. I’ve also been able to cap the year off with another big announcement, having been asked to become a brand ambassador for New Holland Agriculture.
The decision to accept this offer was an easy one to make, given we have used New Holland machinery around our farm for some time and because the brand is a proud sponsor of the Young Farmer of the Year, reflecting our own values around supporting and investing in rural and regional communities, and the younger generations who are the future of our industry.
It’s been such a rewarding year to date, albeit it hectic, balancing commitments here on our dairy farm at the base of beautiful Mount Pirongia in the Waikato region, where with husband Chris, we share in an equity partnership with his parents, overseeing the milking of 1100 cows across two farms. Cloverlea Farms also owns a support block for young stock, rearing 1000 calves annually. And, we crop 200ha of the total farm area each year, with about 100ha of maize going in this year.
I’m also a vet and am fortunate to still be able to pursue this part of my life, working at times for a local veterinary clinic, and also with Fonterra on an exciting sustainability project around educating vets on emissions and its relationship to animals and animal wellbeing. Chris and I are also kept busy chasing our two-year-old toddler, Beau.
Beau’s childhood is a reflection of my own, growing up as the middle child in a family with five kids, at Muriwai Beach where dad and mum, who also works as a nurse, have a calf-rearing farm. They were our role models when it came to the importance of hard work, and teaching us that ‘the harder you work in life, the luckier you get’. A rural up-bringing sets you up well for all things in life and myself, my sisters and brother became very adaptable as a result of learning a variety of skills from a young age. I was certainly grateful for that during the judging process for Young Farmer of the Year! Those early lessons from my parents certainly set us all up for personal and professional success, and it’s these same messages Chris and I are keen to pass onto Beau.
As I embark on this new role with New Holland, I’m keen to share just what it is I love about agriculture, country communities and life on the farm. I’ll also be sharing some of the challenges and the issues facing our industry today. Not necessarily in a negative sense because I really believe that with every challenge comes opportunity – it’s just a matter of finding a new path sometimes and a fresh perspective. New Holland is also going to be loaning us some tractors to try as part of our day-to-day operations, so I’ll be offering some reviews from time to time. And, rest assured, we won’t be going easy on them! They’ll be put to the test every day, performing all the tasks required around our properties, and in all conditions.
Farming is not just a profession, it’s a lifestyle, and I’m so pleased to have this opportunity - through both Young Farmer of the Year, and now with New Holland - to promote our incredible agriculture industry and the people and communities who drive it.