NZ Dairy Winter 2021

52 | nz dairy DAIRY AWARDS » Rachael Foy R achael Foy says she was both pleased and very humbled to have won the 2021 Auck- land/Hauraki Dairy Industry Share Farmer of the Year, along with four merit awards. “I’m very grateful to have received the awards. I wanted to do well but there was very good compe- tition. Winning the awards gives me confidence in what I’m doing and that I’m on the right track. I put a lot of work in to get there so to have it pay off is pretty cool.” Rachael says entering the awards provided her the opportunity to advance her career in the industry and to expand her network of supportive and likeminded people within the industry. Going through the awards process also forced Rachael to critically examine her own business in fine detail, and to benchmark against other people in the same industry within the region. Creating right team culture focus for Rachael Richard Loader Rachael had previously entered and won the region’s Dairy Manager award in 2017, receiv- ing third place at the Nationals, so had a good understanding of the process. “One of the key differences this time is that as contract milker you have your own business with sole responsibility. I have three full time staff and one part time calf rearer/relief milker. All the employment laws and management of them is directly on me, whereas when you’re the Farm Manager you always have the support of the farm owner or share milker.” While unsuccessful at this year’s Nationals, Rachael says they also provided her with the opportunity to network with others in the industry throughout New Zealand and to build upon her support network. Now in her seventh season dairy farming after completing a Bachelor of Agriculture, Rachael is about to commence her third season as Contract Milker on a 750-cow farm in Ohinewai, five min- utes north of Huntly. “As contract milker I relish the opportunity to grow my business and equity while providing significant opportunities for my staff. Our focus is looking after the farm, the animals and the environ- ment as if it was our own. We’re a grass-based system and concentrate on feeding our cows on good grass and home grown feed. “There’s a big focus on animal welfare as well. We have a lot of schools, Young Farmer and Fonterra groups coming through and so we want to do the best we can to demonstrate that, and that’s something we all enjoy.” Rachael says having a team of four, inclusive of herself creates challenges but it also creates a lot of opportunities to develop a really strong team culture. “Staff management is a skill that you’re continu- ally improving and developing. One of the judges at the National’s picked up on a performance review from one of my staff who thought the team was going really well and wanted to make sure the team kept going as we were. “The fact that my guys acknowledge we have a really good team culture and have picked up the ball and want to run with it is really cool. C OWLEY S TANICH & C O L TD “ T HE F LAMIN’ A CCOUNTANTS ” FARM ACCOUNT ING SPECIAL I STS PHONE 07 828 9042 | 7 Hakanoa Street, Huntly trish@csca.co.nz | maree@csca.co.nz CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 2021 NZ DAIRY AWARD WINNERS A big part of my role is not just teaching skills but also teaching and instilling the team values that we want to establish. Ultimately that’s the thing that will make the farm run smoothly.” Looking to the future, Rachael wants to continue to grow and diversify her business. “I’m really just open to whatever comes my way.” Rachel Foy took out the Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Industry Share Farmer of the Year, along with four merit awards. Rachael with staff members on the 750-cow farm in Ohinewai, near Huntly. SERVICING THE WAIKATO SINCE 1932 Milking Machines Water Pumps Effluent Systems hutchies.co.nz 186 Thames St, Morrinsville 0800 HUTCHIES 57 Great South Rd, Taupiri 0800 488 244 0800 HONDAS Huntly & Morrinsville Your local Honda & Husqvarna dealer Peter Glidden Honda proudly supporting Rachael Foy’s farming endeavours