20 | nzdairy DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS » O’Neill’s Fine Farms Vet visits lead to a passion for farming Anne Boswell Saffron shines as Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year Saffron Astwood’s journey into the dairy industry wasn’t a typical one. A self-confessed “townie,” she grew up far removed from the land and animals that now shape her daily routine. “Before I went farming, I had barely touched a cow,” she says. But this year, her hard work and passion was recognised when she was named the 2025 Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards. Saffron also collected the DairyNZ Practical Skills Award and the Okato Vets Farming Knowledge Award - a testament to her rapid growth and knowledge in the industry that she has come to love. Saffron originally set her sights on becoming a veterinary nurse for small animals, but a pivot during her studies led her to specialise as a large animal veterinary technologist. A placement on a dairy farm during this time sparked an unexpected passion. “I fell in love with farming,” she says. She began part-time relief milking in 2022 and took on calf rearing that July. After two years on that farm, she moved to a farm assistant role on contract milkers Caitlin and Riley O’Neill’s farm, milking 400 Jersey cows on 90ha effective. This June, she will move with the O’Neills to a new farm in Manawatu, with an exciting new role awaiting her: that of herd manager on the 220ha farm, milking 550 Kiwi Cross cows on a split calving system. Saffron’s husband Korey Astwood, who was runner-up in the 2022 Taranaki Dairy Manager of the Year, encouraged her to enter the competition, as did her current and previous employers. “I wanted to learn new skills, make new friends and get out of my comfort zone, and to prove to myself that I could,” Saffron says. Winning the award was a surprise to Saffron, who describes herself as “a bit of a self-doubter.” Saffron originally set her sights on becoming a veterinary nurse for small animals. However, the recognition went a long way to affirming her passion and ability. “It showed that I’m indeed in the right industry, it’s something I love and I’m doing it well,” she says. “I was really stoked – it is the last year I could enter as a dairy trainee and it rounded the year out quite well.” Saffron is enthusiastic about the dairy industry’s rewards and challenges. “Even though it can be difficult, it can be so rewarding as well,” she says. “If you’ve had a difficult day, you have to hit ‘reset’ on that mentality the next day. “Even though it can be difficult, it can be so rewarding as well. I have the best job in the world – I’m outside, and I love being with the cows.” We are a locally owned and operated transportation business specialising in the cartage of bulk goods such as palm kernel, blended stock feed and fertiliser, along with the general farm freight of items such as bagged calf feed and hay/silage Taranaki wide. » BULK CARTAGE » HI-AB DELIVERY SERVICE » GENERAL FREIGHT SERVICE michielsenstransport.co.nz | 027 340 6273 | Michielsens Transport 39 Cutfield St, Inglewood 94 Broadway, Stratford 0800 662 6455 www.moamilking.co.nz See us for: • Pumps and Water Systems • Milking Machines • Effluent Systems • Meal Systems • Teat Spray Systems “I have the best job in the world – I’m outside, and I love being with the cows.” Saffron’s advice to others considering entering the Dairy Industry Awards? “Just do it – you have nothing to lose by entering and so much to gain,” she says. “I’ve made some amazing friends and learnt some great skills that I couldn’t have learnt anywhere else.”
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