Kylie Leonard is passionate about her community roots that go back more than 60 years on the Central Plateau.
Her family has a long history of farming in the region where her grandparents walked from Te Aroha, in Waikato, to Reporoa to establish their dairy farm in the 1950s.
Initially pursuing a teaching career Leonard never gave up on her long-time dream to one day own a piece of land and be a dairy farmer herself.
That came to fruition six years ago when she and her husband Rick converted their dairy support unit to equity partnership dairying.
“You could say dairying has been in my blood and my heart forever. I believe this takes you where you should be,” she said.
“And I feel privileged to be involved in the dairy industry and my dairying community.”
At the Dairy Women’s Network conference last month Leonard was awarded the organisation’s 2018 Dairy Community Leadership Award.
“This was something I never dreamed. It was a complete surprise and I feel so humbled and honoured.
“I had just finished drenching calves when I got this call to say I had been nominated for the award and I just thought I can’t believe why – to win, it just blew me away.”
The prestigious industry award celebrates the unsung heroes of rural communities.
Leonard milks 400 cows at Oruanui, Taupo, with her husband Rick and daughters Kate, 10, and seven-year-old twins Isla and Eloise.
“Yes we are a pink family,” she said.
The couple entered into their farm equity partnership with her parents and while Leonard is hands-on milking cows and rearing calves she continues to teach part-time at the local school, working with children with learning disabilities.
With a keen involvement in education she is chairwoman of St Patrick’s School board of trustees, patron of the Taupo Family Playcentre and is on the Taupo board of the Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP).
She has just stepped down as a committee member of the Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) and is a former Fonterra shareholders’ councillor for the Taupo ward.
Her passion for dairy farming and her community shines out in everything she does.
She is highly visible in her community and a big supporter of diversity in the farming workplace.
Receiving the award was acknowledgement of her commitment to promoting the dairy farming lifestyle.
“The dairy industry is in my heart and soul and seeing others be involved and succeed is a really great feeling.
“For me, connection is all about authenticity and inclusion – whether that’s sharing a positive story about the industry or putting my hand up to question something.
“I pride myself on being a positive role model to others.”
Leonard regularly promotes and hosts visits to her farm by playcentres, kindergartens, primary schools, colleges and other and also supports AgITO students.
Last year she hosted 194 people on the farm.
“I like to lead a positive example not just for my kids but for all young people.
“It’s just amazing what so many get from a visit to the farm, touch the cows, milk the cows, feed a calf – they just take it all in and I like to think it’s the beginnings of their community and industry involvement.
“Sharing a positive story and my love for our cows and our land is something I aim to do daily, whether that’s on social media, at school, at an event or out socialising.
“I never let an opportunity to share go past.”
Long-term, Leonard wants to further use her passion for dairying to encourage more people to enter the industry and help them to take advantage of the opportunities it offers.
“I just love it that every day three generations of our family are working together for a common goal – it’s magical.”
While acknowledging she leads a very busy life, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It’s busy but it’s very rewarding.”
Leonard believes she has a responsibility to be involved in her community.
“The people who came before us have done a lot to create and build our rural community and we have got a job to do to keep that going.”
With her award Leonard receives a scholarship, sponsored by ASB and Tompkins Wake, to attend the Community and Enterprise Leadership Programme at Waikato University.
She plans to use it to help get more of the farming voice heard at local and regional councils levels.
“We need to be involved in those spaces. Our voice is just not being heard and we need to address this. I am very passionate about that.”
Leonard also believes in sharing her learning.
“The learning you do is learning you share with others, you take everybody on the journey with you as you upskill.
“I am really excited about the opportunity to do this.”
