22 | nzdairy DAIRY AWARDS » Sarah Avery: Kovo Farms Awards win helps on career pathway Karen Phelps When Dairy Manager of the Year Award winner for the Taranaki Region, Sarah Avery, moved back home to Stratford in her final stage of university it proved life changing for a number of reasons. It was her entry into the dairy industry as she started relief milking and she met her partner Brandon Hitchcock. The pair has just secured a 50/50 sharemilking position for the 2025/26 season on a 300 cow farm in Taranaki. “It was our three year goal so to be able to tick that off is a big achievement and the industry awards were a big help in that,” says Sarah. Sarah grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Toko and initially had no plans of a farming career. It was when starting a nursing degree she realised it wasn’t for her and her love of working outdoors and the financial aspects of the farming industry saw her switch to a Bachelor of Agri Commerce from Massey University majoring in rural valuation. About halfway through her degree she decided to study by correspondence and moved back home to Stratford where she undertook relief milking jobs and then got offered a calf rearing job by Carl and Shey Kowalewski on their 130ha property, milking 300 cows at Midhurst, which transitioned into a full time farm assistant position in 2021. “I didn’t know much about the dairy industry so it was a massive learning curve but I really enjoyed it,” says Sarah. “Carl and Shey are very passionate about dairying, which spread onto me, and my passion for dairying grew throughout.” The next season Sarah was offered the manager position and her partner Brandon, who had grown up on a dairy farm in Inglewood, joined the team. “We work well together as a team. Brandon is good practically and I love the management side, animal health and nutrition. The owners are very hands on as well.” Sarah had completed one year as manager when she decided to enter the awards, partly inspired by Carl and Shey who had won the national Manager of the Year title in 2004. Sarah won the regional Dairy Manager of the Year title and also took out four merit awards as well as placing third in the National Manager of the Year Award. Sarah is heavily involved in the industry both on and off farm. She is the Young Farmers chair for the Taranaki Manawautu region, takes part in local discussion groups and is the NZ Young Farmers appointed trustee on Dairy Trust Taranaki, which operates four farms, taking a science based approach to look at the future of dairy farming. As she prepares to move on Sarah is proud of her achievements on the Kowalewski’s farm, especially around pasture management, environmental and health and safety practices. This has included implementing weekly pasture walks and use of Sarah Avery with farm owners Carl and Shey Kowalewski in Queenstown for the NZDIA National awards. Sarah (below) with her Bachelor of Agri Commerce degree. technology to increase pasture utilisation, riparian planting around drains and as erosion management, recycling plastic baleage wrap and instigating the Onside health and safety app. With a forecasted low payout and high interest rates she has also focused on cutting costs where possible. “Meeting people, especially others at similar stages in their careers, made entering the awards really rewarding and it certainly helped to secure our first sharemilking position. We’re definitely ready and excited to take the next step.” “Meeting people, especially others at similar stages in their careers, made entering the awards really rewarding and it certainly helped secure our first sharemilking position.” 39 Cut eld St, Inglewood 94 Broadway, Stratford 0800 662 6455 www.moamilking.co.nz Proud to support Sarah Avery & Kovo Farms
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