NZ Dairy Winter 2021

56 | nz dairy DAIRY AWARDS » Sophie White Farm team proud Kim Newth Photos: Sophie White (top) says winning the Southland-Otago Dairy Trainee of the Year award has “helped me to believe in myself.” Sophie with contract milker Shaun McKelvie and the Maxnco Farms team at Edendale. S outhland contract milkers Shaun and Nikoia McKelvie, of Maxnco Farms Ltd, have been running a smooth dairy operation at Edendale for the past 11 years but 2021 has been particularly rewarding. The whole team is feeling pretty chuffed about the success of their young farm assistant, So- phie White, who was recently named as Southland- Otago Dairy Trainee of the Year. The 19-year-old joined the team at Bathan and Jane Muir’s 552ha property in Edendale milking 1600 last November, after completing her first ever dairy contract in Woodlands, milking 420 cows for Jono and Ellish van’t Wout. Sophie was part way into her final year at school when she decided she’d had enough of the classroom and would rather be working outside with animals. With only two seasons milking under her belt she took the plunge and entered the dairy awards. With a Dairy Industry Awards title now in the bag, Sophie is on course for a bright future in the industry. As a first time entrant, she never expected to get placed, much less win the regional dairy trainee award. She is very thankful for all the support and encouragement she had from Shaun and Nikoia, and her manager Melissa Fairbarn.“This has really helped me to believe in myself – it has been amaz- ing.” The Edendale farm has two 800 cow units – one with a 54 bail rotary shed and the other with a 60 bail shed, both with a wintering barn beside them - each run by a team of four. Sophie works on the 54 bail unit, managed by Melissa. Shaun manages the other unit and oversees the whole operation. “Sophie has an awesome attitude and is really easy to teach,” says Shaun. “She asks questions and takes in what you tell her. We had regular train- ing sessions with her to help prepare her for the awards and I also put her in touch with rural farm and financial advisors so she could spend time with them too. Leading up to the awards, Melissa and I would be quizzing her on different things at milking time to see what she could remember.” He says the farm team is very proud of Sophie’s award success. “I hope it will encourage other young people to consider a dairy career.” Sophie recently represented her region at the Dairy Industry Awards in Hamilton and says being part of the national awards was a fantastic experi- ence. “It was very inspiring to realise that we were all on the same wavelength with the same passion and determination,” says Sophie. While still fairly new to the industry, Sophie knows she’s found her niche and loves working as part of a supportive farm team. “The main goal for me at the moment is to be managing a farm in five years’ time.” Shaun’s own career started at Edendale some 18 years ago and, after four years away managing a neighbouring dairy farm, he returned to the Muir’s farm. The dairy operation has grown in both cow numbers and scale, growing Shaun’s skills and ex- perience along with it. “I love having the opportunity to pass on some of that knowledge - it is very rewarding.” “Sophie has an awesome attitude and is really easy to teach. She asks questions and takes in what you tell her. We had regular training sessions with her to help prepare her for the awards and I also put her in touch with rural farm and financial advisors so she could spend time with them too.” Geo Routhan 027 779 9449 − Dispatch • Fertiliser Cartage & Sowing • Excavation & Muck Spreading • Coal and Lignite, Gravel • Cement and Concrete Supplies • Stock Cartage, General Cartage & Stock Food Cartage • Whey and E uent Spreading