“They all juggle multiple roles from being a vet and mechanic to a financial planner and strategic thinker,” Dairy Women’s Network trustee and awards judge Alison Gibb said.
“There’s no doubt the role women play in dairy farming now completely breaks the old-fashioned mould of public perception about what a farmer’s wife is.
“They’re all farming partners, farming in their own right, playing a major role in running a million-dollar business,” Gibb said.
“They are a chief executive, health and safety manager, environmental watchdog, farm labourer and policy writer but at the end of the day tuck the kids into bed at night and send them off to school with a packed lunch.”
Gibb said this year’s finalists highlight the importance of women, not just in their family farm businesses but also in the dairy industry.
Trish Rankin, Kylie Leonard, Julie Pirie and Emma Hammond are all dairy farmers actively contributing in the industry.
Farmer and Dairy Enviro leader Trish Rankin from Taranaki balances teaching part time at Opunake primary school with working as a farm assistant and chief executive in their farming business.
A passionate environmentalist, Rankin completed the Kellogg Leadership Programme this year with her research project focusing on how a circular economy model can be developed on a New Zealand dairy farm.
Waikato farmer Julie Pirie is no stranger to the industry, having grown up in a family that has been dairy farming for many generations.
The Fonterra Shareholders Council member and former DairyNZ consulting officer takes every opportunity to promote the dairy industry and particularly loves sharing farming with young people, most recently as chairwoman of the Donald Pearson Farm in Brookby, Auckland.
Hailing from Taupo, dairying has been a part of Kylie Leonard’s family for six generations and she’s been involved in a wide range of areas in her community and the dairy industry including being a Fonterra Shareholders Council member, a DWN regional leader and an ambassador for the Dairy Industry Awards.
She is on the rural education activities programme board in Taupo and recently completed a three-year term on the Tongariro Community Organisation’s grant scheme committee.
Southlander Emma Hammond is single-handedly waving the South Island flag in the final.
The former sheep farmer has been dairy farming for 10 years in the family equity partnership business milking 475 cows in eastern Southland and for the past four years has served on various committees on the Fonterra Shareholders Council and recently completed the Institute of Director’s governance development course.
Gibb said the strong message from this year’s finalists is though each is very passionate about their own farming operation they all have an inner drive to go beyond and make the dairy industry a better place for all and future generations.
All four women are heavily involved in business and community networks while finding time to work on professional development and spend time with family.
“They all want to make their mark in the dairy industry and feel a real need to get out beyond the gate to make a difference and to do their bit to leave the dairy industry better than it was before.”
The award will be announced at the Allflex Dairy Women’s Network conference in Christchurch on May 1.
