| 65 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Donalds Farm Seeking to build a dedicated learning centre Karen Phelps Donald’s Farm is seeking funding partners to build a dedicated learning centre that farm manager Sam Waugh says could transform how young people connect with the industry and discover career opportunities. A 74-hectare property on the outskirts of Auckland, Donald’s Farm was gifted to New Zealand Young Farmers in 2018. “The learning centre is about showcasing what opportunities there are within the wider agrisector and encouraging our future workforce. So it could be a funding opportunity for any business looking for future staff who wants to help ensure that pipeline of good people coming through,” says Sam. The proposed centre would significantly expand the farm’s already successful educational programmes via partnerships with local schools, which last year saw 900 students visit the farm. Sam’s ultimate goal is to welcome 5,000 visitors annually but says achieving this target requires substantial infrastructure development including an expanded laneway network, which is currently underway, and the learning centre itself. “The learning centre will help to educate people in a very different way,” explains Sam, “putting learning into real-world context and showcasing the value of the skills the students are learning. For example students studying horticulture already visit the farm to identify weeds, learn management strategies and understand the impact of the weeds on farming operations.” The farm runs several programmes, including ‘Grass to Glass’ tours for primary schools that The proposed centre would significantly expand the farm’s already successful educational programmes. demonstrate the complete milk production process from pasture to processing. Sam says the farm’s educational programmes have shown success in inspiring young people towards agricultural careers. “Surveys conducted with high school students after completing courses reveal that around 60% express interest in pursuing careers in the agrisector, with the majority gaining a much better understanding of available opportunities. You can see a light bulb go off for some students as they gain a better understanding of how food is produced and also career opportunities in the ag sector,” says Sam. However expansion faces significant challenges. “One of our biggest limitations as a business to be able to expand the work we are doing is capital infrastructure and having enough staff on farm to both run the farm and also more of the educational programmes we are doing,” explains Sam. “The only way we can fund both sides are through external sponsorship.” Donald’s Farm currently operates as a working dairy operation, milking approximately 130 Jersey cows and 10 milking Shorthorns through an 11-aside herringbone shed. Last season’s production reached 50,099 kilograms of milk solids. The farm’s commitment extends to environmental stewardship. It participates in the Papakura Stream Restoration project, with plans to plant 120,000 native trees and retire steeper land. By winter’s end, 39,000 natives will have been planted, supported by an on-farm nursery developed with Conservation Volunteers New Zealand. Sam’s role uniquely combines traditional farm management with educational programme delivery and sponsorship development, a reflection of the farm’s dual mission as both working operation and educational facility. He says the learning centre represents an important next step in fulfilling the vision of the late Donald Pearson, who gifted the property to create a not-for-profit operation connecting young people with farming. “For potential funders it offers an opportunity to invest in the agricultural sector’s future workforce by supporting practical, hands-on education that could inspire the next generation of farmers and agricultural professionals.” STOCK WATER DESIGN - FREE SITE VISITS <FYJW 7JYNHZQFYNTS a 1FSI )WFNSFLJ a *K ܫ ZJSY 2FSFLJRJSY &HHJXX\F^X a 4S +FWR .SKWFXYWZHYZWJ If water runs through it, we do it ! 5ZRUX FSI +NQYWFYNTS Water Storage 5NUJ +NYYNSLX Trough Valves and Floats Plastic and Concrete Culverts Concrete Troughs - Protected and Unprotected hyndsrural.co.nz rural@hynds.co.nz Branches Nationwide A groundbreaking conservation and education initiative is underway at Donald’s Farm, a commercial dairy operation near Whitford, supported by NZ Young Farmers. Alongside its 65 hectares of productive farmland, the property features native bush, planted gullies, and a vital stretch of the Papakura Stream — a 63-kilometre waterway that lows to the Manukau Harbour, draining a 4,100-hectare catchment in South Auckland. Recognising the stream’s signi icance, Conservation Volunteers New Zealand (CVNZ) launched the Papakura Stream Restoration Project in 2021 to improve water quality, increase native planting, and create a green corridor through the region. Donald’s Farm and NZYF have been key partners in this work over the past two years. Hynds Pipe Systems, is committed to improving water quality through innovative infrastructure solutions designed for sustainable land and water management. Therefore, when a conversation was sparked at the annual Mystery Creek Fieldays in 2023 about supporting Donald’s Farm and the restoration of the Papakura Stream, Hynds jumped on board. Led by Rural Sales Development Manager Dave Crake, Hynds has provided critical components including water tanks, pumps, irrigation systems, culvert pipes, and design expertise — secured in collaboration with partners such as Waters & Farr, Wetta, White International, and Devan Tanks. “With Donald’s Farm being linked to Young Farmers, it aligns perfectly with our values,” says Crake. “The goal to welcome 5,000 students and visitors each year is both ambitious and inspiring. We see this as a long-term partnership to help make that vision a reality by supporting ongoing infrastructure needs.” The partnership continues with Hynds delivering practical concrete and plastic solutions for the upcoming on-farm developments, including drainage for new cattle yards and a loading race — enhancing the farm’s dual role as a working operation and educational hub. Looking ahead, Donald’s Farm plans to establish an on-site learning facility within three years, creating an interactive space for teaching sustainable land management. With the vision to inspire the next generation of farmers and environmental stewards by showing how productive agriculture can go hand-in-hand with ecological care. “Being right on Auckland’s doorstep gives Donald’s Farm a huge audience,” adds Crake. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to bridge the rural-town divide and support young people entering the rural sector.” Hynds recognises that Donald’s Farm and CVNZ share its commitment to conservation and education, that alignment makes Hynds proud to be connecting communities through infrastructure. Donald’s Farm: Where Conservation, Education and Innovation Grow Together
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