NZ Dairy Winter 2021

64 | nz dairy A year of firsts for dairy farm trainee Richard Loader DAIRY AWARDS » Kelly Poehls H er first year dairy farming and her first year entering the dairy industry awards, Kelly Po- ehls felt surprised when her name was called out as Runner-Up Dairy Trainee of the Year at the Canterbury/North Otago regional awards, winning $1625 in prizes. At the time of receiving the award Kelly was working on Claxby Farms’ 300-hectare property West Dairy in Swanannoa, 15 minutes west of Rangiora, peak milking 1040 cows. “I was new to dairy and wanted to immerse myself into the industry as much as I could and the awards were a way of doing that,” says Kelly. “I thought it would be a good way of getting involved in the industry and meeting lots of like- minded people. Networking is very important within the industry. You meet like-minded people who are quite passionate and interested in going places.” Kelly says the awards process is also a good opportunity to underline your strengths and to discover weakness to work on. “For me, it was a good opportunity to learn interview skills, particularly for future jobs. There are three judges sitting in front of you and they are firing questions at you in quick succession, so you have to think quite quickly on your feet.” While new to dairy farming, Kelly had an early taste of farm life growing up right next door to her uncle’s sheep and beef property in Makara, on the western edge of Wellington, realising from an early age that she wanted to make agriculture her life. Kelly Poehls was named Dairy Trainee runner-up at the Canterbury/North Otago dairy awards, in her very first year dairy farming. • to page 65 After studying agriculture by correspond- ence while still at High School, Kelly completed a 12-month sheep and beef course at Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre in Masterton before completing a BCom Ag at Lincoln University. Degree in hand, Kelly’s next move was to go shearing in Dannevirke, Central Otago and Canter- bury, proving that in addition to intellectual ability she was not afraid of hard physical work. Career minded, at the conclusion of three years holding the handpiece, Kelly thought it was time to commence her farming journey, with farm manage- ment always the path she was going to head down. “I had relief milked while I was at Uni and really enjoyed that. I originally applied for a calf rearers position for the winter at Claxby Farm but Sam Spencer-Bower, whose family own the farm, called me and offered me a dairy assistants position.” Sam says he was attracted to Kelly’s obvious work ethic and proven intellectual capability. “There are three judges sitting in front of you and they are firing questions at you in quick succession, so you have to think quite quickly on your feet.” FARMING WITH PASSION BA MURRAY LTD VERSATILE - ROBUST - PRECISE “Our Machine Can Be Perfectly Adapted To Suit Your Requirements” • Versatile From Direct Drilling To Cultivated Soils • Metering Of Up To Three Individual Components • High Coulter Pressure • Suitable For All Sowing Conditions Our Services Include: • Architectural Homes • New Housing • Renovations • Alterations • Light Commercial Builds • Concrete Placing • Decks and Landscaping Earl Builders email: kelly@earlbuilders.co.nz mobile: 027 6609 555 And pretty much everything in-between. Servicing North Canterbury, Hurunui and surrounds M: 021 730 865 P: 03 4233162 E: office@canterburywaterservices.co.nz • Pump Sales, Service and Installations • General Farm Water Services • New and Existing Dairy Shed Water Reticulation • Sales, Design & Installation of Secondary Irrigation (Solid Set Irrigation) • Lifestyle and Domestic Water Pumping Systems • General Irrigation Needs STUBBS GROUNDSPREADING Proof of placement Spreadmark Cer�fied Lime | Specialised Mixes Super | Seed Mixes 174 High St, Oxford 7495 03 3123 593 | 021 312 080 E: stubbsgroundspreading@gmail.com W: www.stubbsgroundspreading.co.nz Variable Rate Applica�on TRACMAPS GPS The preferred milking systems partner for Dairy Farmers Ph 0800 577 583 | www.morrisonagri.co.nz Proud to support Claxby Farm