68 | nzdairy New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards » Lupton and McCracken Hayden did not follow a traditional pathway into the industry. Alexia Anderson Hayden Lupton is proving his worth behind the farm gates after claiming top honours at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards. The 29-year-old farm assistant won Northland Dairy Trainee of the Year, along with $6000 in prizes and three merit awards. Hayden, who works for Greg McCracken on a 175ha, 400 cow property at Wellsford, did not follow a traditional pathway into the industry, only entering dairying to cover his wife’s role on-farm while she was on maternity leave. Before making the switch, he spent 10 years in the motorbike industry, qualifying in motorbike engineering and outdoor power equipment before working as a service manager. He later worked as a mechanic and greenkeeper at Tara Iti Golf Club. However, a willingness to step outside his comfort zone has paid off for Hayden, who has enjoyed his latest career move. “When Michaela, my wife, went on maternity leave we couldn’t find suitable relief staff so I jumped into the role only thinking I would finish off the season until she could return, but ended up really enjoying the job and stayed on for the current season,” he says. Despite previously believing farming “was off the cards”, the experience quickly reshaped his thinking. “It definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone,” he says. “It was challenging at first, adjusting to the lifestyle, but I am a fast learner and really took to honing in my skills.” He says the flexibility the industry offers, along with its family-friendly outlook, were key motivators towards pivoting into his new career. “I realised that it was a great industry to raise a young family and be flexible so that I don’t miss out the important milestones that come with having a young family.” He admits the steep learning curve that came with the switch was one of the biggest obstacles. “The biggest challenge overall was having to quickly learn a lot of things all at once, but with the repetition of milking daily, you quickly can master a lot of those daily skills.” Hayden says the support he has around him, particularly from his father-in-law and employer, has played a significant role in his success. “His guidance and knowledge has helped me out a lot with learning new skills and backing myself.” A willingness to step outside his comfort zone Hayden’s mechanical background has also proved valuable on the farm, particularly in maintaining machinery and equipment. Now firmly settled into farming, Hayden decided to enter the awards after attending previous events in support of Michaela. Hayden says although the study involved in the lead up was challenging, the experience ultimately left him with a lot more confidence in himself. “Personally, it is a huge achievement as I never would of imagined ever being a dairy farmer, let alone winning a regional title for it.” Looking ahead, Hayden and Michaela plan to become 50/50 sharemilkers on her parent’s farm. “It is a huge step up, which is a little bit intimidating, but with our combined skillset I think we can do well together and smash our goals.” POST PEELINGS | WOODCHIP | SAW DUST | PALM KERNEL FERTILISER DELIVERIES | SILO DELIVERIES He credits their complementary strengths as a key to their success and encourages others to take a chance on new opportunities. “Life is short so give everything a go,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.” Cub Cadet LX42 Side Discharge The Cub Cadet LX42 receives the Consumer Recommendation Tick, making it an excellent choice for those with a larger section or small lifestyle block. $8,299.00 Q-Card accepted (if you don't have one we can help apply) No deposit , pay off over 34 months interest free , small booking fee is built into repayments. Please call Doug for more information.
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