| 7 nzdairy DAIRY AWARDS » Emma Williamson: Amorangi Farms Auckland / Hauraki Dairy Trainee of the Year Emma Williamson has battled adversity to take out the award. Chronic illness, autism no barrier for Emma Richard Loader Your provincial business specialists. Proud partner of Amorangi Farms and sponsor of the Auckland Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards. www.ct.co.nz 0508 692 226 Battling ADHD, autism and lupus, a chronic autoimmune condition, has proven to be no barrier to Emma Williamson who won the 2024 Dairy Trainee of the Year at the Auckland / Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards. Emma also won the Dairy NZ Practical Skills Award and Franklin Vets Farming Knowledge Award. Despite her health challenges, Emma says winning the regional dairy industry awards reignited the fire in her belly to achieve her industry goals and to inspire others to follow their dreams, no matter what. “I’m very passionate about telling people that nothing should stop you, not even a chronic illness, autism or ADHD. I do a lot of speaking at schools through Young Farmers and I say to kids, if you have something wrong with you there will be a boss out there. I have been fired from so many jobs because people didn’t understand me, and I finally found the lucky one.” Emma, felt that entering the awards would be a great way to get more experience, take herself out of her comfort zone, and identify where her strengths and weaknesses were. She says going through the awards gave her a lot more confidence in respect to where she sat within the industry. “Being successful has also given me the confidence and the opportunity to apply for new jobs in new locations and to grow my skills. As part of the awards process we had to write a CV and cover letter, as well as do our own planning and career goals. I realised that I had grown as much as I could in my current role, and my bosses understood that. In three weeks I will be moving on to a new farm in Taranaki, in a similar role but new people, new cows, new region. I’m really excited for my new job, because I can see that I will really excel.” Emma’s farming has been a courageous journey that started when growing up on her parents’ small sheep and beef farm, where she preferred helping her mother with lambing, rather than attending school. After leaving school at 16, Emma attended Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre studying drystock farming. After gaining her Agricultural Certificate she went shepherding for two years. “I ended up moving back home because I had been quite sick during that time. I was also over bosses who just weren’t understanding of me being neurodiverse. Last year I was diagnosed with Lupus, which is controlled by medication but I’m always battling something, like tiredness.” An opportunity to work on a dairy farm owned by Young Farmers led to two-and-a-half years as relief worker, and the confidence to start her own relief milking business, and finally a full time job on Amber and Fraser Carpenter farm in Paparimu. “They have been absolutely fantastic, and so understanding about my condition. You just have to find the right bosses, and I have found the right bosses who care about ADHD and Lupus and help me manage it. My new bosses will be the same.”
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