Partner Harry Lanauze, a beef farm employee, parents Dion and Teresa, farm managers Kris and Renee Gatehouse and farm owners Barry and Heather Bowers all are keen to go.
It is a measure of the respect they have for the 21-year-old farm assistant from Ruawai who brims over with enthusiasm for dairying.
“I really enjoy being part of the dairy industry – even those early mornings – and I can’t wait to grow and progress.
“My ambition was always to go dairying – I was Dad’s little helper on the farm from an early age.”
Christina wants to buy some heifers after the next calving season, move up to herd manager in a couple of years and then go sharemilking like her parents, who are on a 280-cow farm at Maungaturoto.
After leaving Otamatea High School in 2011 she had a gap year teaching at riding schools in the United States before beginning in the New Zealand dairy industry as a farm worker on a 1200-cow property in Canterbury.
Some short-term practical work during the AI season led to the offer of a farm job.
Winter down south was a real shock to the Northland girl so she moved home and took a job at Ruawai in March 2015. The Bowers’ farm is less than a kilometre from the Ruawai township, all flat country.
Less than a year after starting with them she won the Northland title, after being encouraged to enter by her farm managers.
Chrtistina is studying level 3 with Primary ITO this year and for recreation she goes leisure riding, not having enough free time to compete.
She “can’t wait” for the national contest week of practical tasks, study and interview, and the big dinner where the Northland contingent will be a strong support.
“I have a mentor who is helping with my preparation, mainly industry knowledge and etiquette.”
Runner-up was Kurtis Danks of Wellsford, and Sarah Powell of Titoki was third.
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