| 63 nzdairy Farm stay inspires Alana Fitzpatrick won the Dairy Trainee of the Year Runner Up Award for the Bay of Plenty Region at the 2024 NZ Dairy Industry Awards. Reuben and Deb with the dairy herd. Randall Johnston Alana Fitzpatrick won the Dairy Trainee of the Year Runner Up Award for the Bay of Plenty Region at the 2024 NZ Dairy Industry Awards, a great achievement in an area that is so rich in farming talent. Farming in Omanawa, in the Bay of Plenty (about 15 minutes south of Tauranga), Alana and the team peak milk 730 Kiwi Cross cows on 240ha effective of rolling to steep land. Calving started in late July, the lead up and duration of that process always being a busy time on farm. Her first farming job came at an ideal time for Alana, just as she was about to commence her study in agriculture. Alana has family members who look after Slipper Island, just off the Coromandel’s east coast, near Pauanui. “They do all the farming and there are cabins that they lease out up there. I spent a couple of weeks up there, before I even started farming and that kind of cemented it for me,” Alana explains. “I was all set to study agriculture when my auntie, who knew farm owners David and Lesley Jensen, told me they needed a part time worker and put me in contact with them,” Alana says. “So I did some part time relief milking and calf rearing for a year, when a full time opportunity came up here on the same farm.” David and Lesley Jensen employ contract milkers Shaun and Alex Boyce. The Jensen’s own other properties including kiwifruit orchards, but Alana says they are still fairly hands-on and she sees the Jensen’s usually once a week. DAIRY PEOPLE» Reuben and Deb Connolly / Puketiro Farm additional ways: “For example, steers can tidy up the hills on the dairy farm where the dairy cows can’t. The sheep are also a tool as much as anything. Some of the country isn’t suitable for cattle, and they help control weeds such as ragwort.” The couple’s backgrounds and skills likewise complement each other. Reuben grew up farming sheep and beef and worked for six years as a block manager in the drystock industry before going sharemilking. Deb, who grew up on a dairy farm, holds a Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education from Waikato University. Reuben says they are not afraid to make bold decisions when needed. For example two years ago the Connollys decided to switch to once-a-day milking all season. “It was for family reasons, and we were in the position where we could do this,” Reuben says. “In 20 years’ time, were we going to think ‘wish we had milked twice a day or spent more time with our children’? We found we lost a bit of production, but our farm working expenses were less as well.” This decision is indicative of the Connollys’ commitment to balancing farm productivity with family life. With five daughters - Laura (9), Vanessa (8), Zoe (6), Isla (4), and Chelsea (2) - Reuben believes that farming is a great way to bring up kids. While consolidation is the immediate aim, the Connollys’ ultimate goal is to buy a dairy farm. “Shaun and Alice have been amazing, they have been really helpful and also the previous contract milkers Reece and Tash Cox - were fantastic. All questions were answered no matter how dumb,” Alana says. “The two were quite different to each other in the way they operate, but that’s been really good because it’s helped me to learn from more than just the one team, with one way of doing things.” Alana really enjoys stock work and is learning more about all aspect of dairy farming with each week that passes. “Being in the yards is probably my favorite thing and I do like pasture management because I like maths and problem solving. Shaun has been amazing in always explaining to me what he’s feeding the cows and why and that’s helped my understanding a lot. We are milking twice a day for about 400 cows until around Christmas, and then we go once a day with everything.” Some feed is grown on farm with about 12ha of Swedes and they also have a maize block about half an hour’s drive away. High annual rainfall means the pastures usually stay green, pretty much year-around. The team is now using Allflex cow collars, mainly for animal health and heat detection, so Alana is excited to learn the ins and outs of that technology. “I want to go into farm ownership at some point so I would like to be in a 2IC role within the next few years.” Gaining recognition from the 2024 NZ Dairy Industry Awards judges early in her career indicates she is poised for greater things in the industry. Bailey Ingham are proud to support Reuben & Deb Connolly 18 Maniapoto Street Otorohanga 07 873 7325 41 Bank Street Te Awamutu 07 870 1888 | 29 Hakiaha Street Taumarunui 07 895 7315 info@baileyingham.co.nz | www.baileyingham.co.nz We provide professional quality advice and friendly service to dairy, drystock, forestry, horticulture and rural businesses throughout New Zealand. 0508 KAIMAI (524624) Proud to be supporting Puketiro Farm
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