The Central Plateau Dairy Trainee finalist set herself that goal when she entered the dairy industry three years ago.
“It’s an honour and it feels great to achieve my goal.”
Her mother, Bridget Hone, was the first woman to win the England Young Farmer of the Year in 1991.
The 24-year-old was raised on a dairy farm at Rotorua and studied a Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Agriculture at Massey University. She worked for two years in Hawke’s Bay as a second in charge (2IC) and a training manager then travelled for six months. She’s now 2IC on a 250-cow farm at Marotiri, near Taupo for Michelle and Ross Davison. The farm is increasing to 420 cows this season.
She secured the job on the basis of an email application while she was in the United Kingdom.
She hopes to go lower-order sharemilking within four years and is investing in stock to raise the capital.
Ruth hopes to keep in touch with all the other finalists. She’s already inspired three of them to run the Queenstown marathon with her in November and was working on getting the rest signed up to make it a reunion, she said.
Josh Lavender from Winton, Southland, was named runner-up. Cameron Luxton from Galatea, in the Bay of Plenty was third.
The DairyNZ Practical Skills Award went to Matthew Snedden from Northland, with judges saying they would be happy to have him carry out fencing on their properties.
