In July she travelled to the United States and Canada to go backpacking with friends, on a trip which took in the Calgary Stampede.
And in October she was selected to be New Zealand ambassador at the Asia-Pacific World Food Day in Bangkok. That trip was just for four days then she had to come back to work on Michelle and Ross Davison’s 420-cow farm near Taupo.
The 25-year-old has also fulfilled several speaking engagements such as at her old school in Rotorua as well as at Young Farmers’ gatherings, and believes she has any future itchy feet feelings well under control.
That’s because last November she and partner Brett Steeghs, 26, secured a 450-cow 50:50 sharemilking position “just round the corner” for the coming season. In his first year farming he works as 2IC on a 400-cow Cambridge farm, and has just taken out the Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year Award, following in her footsteps.
Since then they have put together a herd of cows which have come from far and wide.
“We managed to shop around and get a good price as well as good Breeding Worth,” she said. “Now we just have to buy machinery and plant.”
The sharemilking step is a big one for the couple, with Hone saying their bank was definitely more willing to back them because of her Dairy Industry Awards win.
