| 65 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Ridgeline Farms The Powell’s milk between 460 – 480 Holstein cows, of which about 80% are registered. The Powell’s farm is out towards Rongotea. Fifth generation to grace the land Richard Loader I first spoke with Manawatu farmers Brad and Kelly Powell seven years ago and at that time their three daughters, Jessica, Holly and Hannah were aged 13, 12 and 11 respectively, and the fifth generation Powells to grace the land. Those young girls are young ladies now, full of ambitions and dreams and still with a passion for agriculture. Jessica is just finishing her Vet Technician studies, while Hannah has gone down the ag-contracting path, driving those big tractors. When she turns 18 later this year she will get her Class 2 license and start the journey towards her Class 5 Heavy Truck licence. While Jessica and Hannah have always been interested in the farm, Holly’s passion lies with the cows and she is heading down the path of being the farmer. She is currently doing her Level 4 ITO studies and mum and dad will encourage her to do the Level 5 Diploma in Agriculture. For the last wee while Holly has been working just down the road on Craig Rowes farm and entered the Manawatu Dairy Industry Awards for Trainee of the Year, where she picked up Merit for practical skills. A pretty good effort considering Holly and another lady were the youngest of eight applicants by a good two years. Holly returned to the family farm February this year, with the goal that she will be managing the dairy unit in a couple of years. Options are still being tossed around beyond that, with one idea being that Holly buys the herd and takes on a 50/50 role. “Brad and I are loving having Holly back on the farm,” says Kelly. “We can see her skills and abilities progressing. She was only five minutes down the road but you didn’t get to see the progression on a daily basis. She already knew a lot of the cows but knows that many more now. She only has to look at a cow to know who the dam and sire is. That’s a skill.” While Brad and Kelly have of course played a role in mentoring Holly over the years, it takes a village to raise a child and others have had a part to play in her professional development including, Craig Rowe, Kate Denholm and members of the Holstein Friesian Association. Holly also belongs to Young Farmers, and is on the committee of the A&P Association and the Manawatu Holstein Association. The Powell’s milk between 460 – 480 Holstein cows, of which about 80% are registered. “We use overseas genetics for all of them. Brad and I were discussing what our passion for farming was and came to the conclusion that we just love working with dairy cows. There’s also this underlying thing that it’s a family farm, but if we didn’t like doing what we do we would not be here. The cows are a bit like having children. You see them being born, you watch them grow and turn into young adults, and they have children and you get to see what the progeny is like. Perhaps the difference is that we play a large part in what genetics are used.” The Powell’s farm is out towards Rongotea. While 190 hectares in total, only 140 hectares are milked off with the remaining 50 hectares are sand dunes used for wintering. A nearby 80-hectare run-off is home to calves and heifers, and growing supplement. WHANGANUI • TURANGI • OHAKUNE | www.pkfdoyles.co.nz We remove the hassle and provide you with everything you need to thrive. The Accountants Animal Health Advisory Trained Body Condition Scorers Healthy Hoof, Healthy Udder & Incalf Programmes Reproductive Services & Analysis General Medicine & Surgery Production Animal Department Ph: 06 322 2333 233 State Highway One, Bulls 4863 / 48 Tutaenui Road, Marton “ extensive range of quality services to your farm”
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