8 | nzdairy DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS » B&T Hopson Partnership Caitlin wins Dairy Trainee of the Year 2025 Nicki Woodlock The winner of the Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Trainee of the Year category for 2025 was awarded to Caitlin Snodgrass at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards on 11 March. Her prize haul includes over $6,200 worth of prizes and two merit awards; the Franklin Vets Farming Knowledge Award for general knowledge of farming, and the Taylor Bros Transport Communication & Industry Involvement Award for communication and industry involvement. Snodgrass’ community involvement is in the charity Surfing for Farmers which aims to build a sense of community amongst farmers. Caitlin Snodgrass works as a farm assistant on Stu and Kaaren Davey’s 215 hectare, 600 cow property in Paeroa. She collaborates with sharemilkers Brendan and Tessa Hopson. The farm operates a KiwiCross herd - a mix of Jersey and Friesian cows - and includes a 60- hectare runoff area used to raise young stock. After competing last year and earning the runner-up position, Snodgrass remained determined, continuously building her knowledge of pasture and nutrient management. She is currently completing a Level 3 ITO Apprenticeship in Dairy Farming, expected to be finished within the next month. “I was encouraged to enter by a friend - to benchmark where I was at, and also to make industry connections,” says Snodgrass. Snodgrass’s win came as a surprise, given that she has only been farming for two seasons. Out of six regional entrants, she was shocked to win. Snodgrass shares, “I didn’t expect to win. There are very bright, hard-working young people in this area. I was in shock when my name was called. I feel that I pushed myself through all of my doubts. I feel proud about how far I’ve come in the last few years both personally and professionally.” Reflecting on her farming journey, Snodgrass admits, “I’m really loving farming. I’ve definitely had my struggles—mostly to do with confidence, as it’s been a steep learning curve. I hadn’t even touched a cow until I was 27 yrs old!” Before venturing into farming, Snodgrass worked in public health in Auckland but found the corporate environment unfulfilling. She recalls, “I decided that I needed to spend some time outside and I decided to get out of the city. I needed to find a meaningful pathway that makes me happy. I love being outside and being with animals.” The Dairy Industry Awards competition involved two main events: a practical skills day consisting of eight stations with a series of 10-minute practical challenges, and an interview to assess entrants’ general farming knowledge, industry insight, and personal experiences on the farm. Snodgrass attributes her success to her evident passion for the industry and the happiness she Farm owners Stu and Kaaren, Caitlin Snodgrass in the middle, sharemilkers Tessa and Brendan. DIA Nationals 2025. derives from her work. She notes that the most challenging aspect of the competition was maintaining composure during practical assessments. Learning to farm has been a rapid process for Snodgrass, who couldn’t drive a manual vehicle before moving to the farm. Now, she confidently operates a large tractor with a feed wagon and independently handles daily farming tasks. The Hopson’s have played a significant role in her training in practical farming skills. In preparation for the national final on May 10, Snodgrass is focusing on building her general knowledge and completing the final two ITO subjects: milking and pasture management. Looking ahead, her goal is to advance to a farm management role. JONO TESSELAAR | MOB 027 495 6106 | 0800 956 106 • Maize Planting & Harvesting • Loaderwagon Silage • Baleage Rounds • Cartage • Cultivation • Hedgecutting • Spraying • Crop Planting SAM TISSINGH Electrician Proudly supporting B&T Hopson Partnership PAEROA - HAURAKI • PH: 022 657 8169 • @: tisselectrical@gmail.com Industrial - Rural Service - Residential - Commercial WE ARE PROUD TO WORK WI TH THE HOPSONS AND THEIR TEAM. BIG THANKS TO CAI TL IN SNODGRASS FOR HER HARD WORK ! Snodgrass aims to move into a 2IC (second-incharge) position and ultimately manage a farm, with the potential of taking on contract milking. She reflects, “Sometimes I miss the animal health side. I might want to go into a research role, maybe in the distant future.”
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