60 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Athol New and Kate Schurrmans Kate recently placed runner-up in the regional Dairy Industry Awards – Dairy Trainee category. Kim Bowden Kate Schuurmans grew up on a dairy farm in Southland, dreaming - like many kids - of becoming a vet. Although the plan didn’t stick as she got older, some fundamentals did: She knew she wanted a hands-on career, and she wasn’t keen on being stuck behind a desk. “A nine-to-five sitting in an office,” she says, “just threw me off a bit. I’ve always been outside my whole entire life.” That led her to study at Lincoln University and eventually take part in the Grassroots Dairy Management Graduate Programme - a decision she says fast-tracked her growth in the dairy industry, alongside the hands-on learning she gained on-farm. It was through a summer job during university that she first connected with Athol New, who would later offer her a full-time role on his Mayfield farm. Two and a half years on, Kate is now secondin-charge on the 600-hectare property, with 1,350 milking cows and 1,500 young stock. Her primary responsibility is pasture management, ensuring feed allocation is balanced throughout the seasons on the farm. “I’m in regular contact with the dairy and runoff manager,” she says, “running the pasture system for the run-off and the dairy platform.” Kate recently placed runner-up in the regional Dairy Industry Awards – Dairy Trainee category - her second attempt at entering. She describes the experience as “eye opening”. The biggest value? “Meeting new people and getting advice from those already in the industry. It’s really opened up where I could head next.” Networking, she says, is key in dairy. “It’s not what you know it’s who you know”. Kate second-in-charge and loving it Kate is thoughtful when asked whether being a young woman in a leadership role on-farm is still noteworthy. She believes the conversation should shift away from limitations and focus more on strengths and how to build teams around them. “Everyone has limitations. It’s not just a woman thing. Some people are great at tractor work - others aren’t, regardless of gender. “It’s about managing the system and the staff to make it work.” Her own boss, she says, has always been encouraging. And, where there’s a physical barrier, “there’s usually equipment or another approach to make it work. I’ve never seen it as a limitation - just an opportunity to improve the system”. Kate has her eyes set on a farm manager role in the near future, and her continued involvement within the dairy industry is a valuable stepping stone towards that. But day-to-day she has another motivation: “To allow my kids to have the same opportunity as I got while growing up - building and preserving a dairy system for future generations to enjoy”. “Everyone has limitations. It’s not just a woman thing. Some people are great at tractor work - others aren’t, regardless of gender. It’s about managing the system and the staff to make it work.” We Design & Build All Things Dairy From concept to completion • Feedpads • Effluent Systems • Silage Bunkers • Dairy Sheds Athol New and Kate Schuurmans Proudly supporting Nigel Hodges 0274 270 557 ruralbuilding.co.nz SMARTER SPREADING FOR YOUR FERTILISER SPEND Accurate Variable Rate • Specialised Crop Truck • Liquid Fert Applicator • Spreadmark Certified • Experienced Operators • Proof of Placement • 03 324 2082 027 279 6708 Contact the team at Spreading Canterbury i ‘Big enough to get the job done, but small enough to care. 027 304 8837 or 03 303 6300 | o ce@loveag.nz Family-owned, proudly supporting local farms.
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