While the dairy industry still offers a career path to those ultimate goals, a series of speakers at various stages in their careers told how they are fulfilling their aims, which do not necessarily mean sharemilking or farm ownership.
Chris and Lynsey Stratford are equity partners and lower-order sharemilkers for South Coast Dairy, a 400-cow farm at Curio Bay, east of Invercargill.
Even though they are one of four shareholders they run the farm – and the owners encourage them to run it – as if it is theirs.
They bought into the equity partnership in 2009 having spent three years in management roles at a 1000-cow farm near Lincoln.
Before that Chris worked on farms in Britain, where he met Lynsey, a lawyer, but on returning to New Zealand he had to learn skills such as managing pasture.
While keen to progress their dairy careers they invested savings earned overseas in a rental property.
The Curio Bay farm equity partnership works well, Chris says.
The partners get on, have complementary skills and the same values and goals.
The shareholders meet regularly, communicate well, acknowledge the importance of family and set an annual farm plan that is left to the Stratfords to implement.
Chris says the couple have been able to pursue their own goals and values, which initially meant a salaried manager’s role so they could more easily manage their own banking affairs before moving to a lower-order sharemilking contract.
It also let them have a work-life balance, something Lynsey says is important with a young family.
“If our kids don’t see farming as a great lifestyle then we’ve failed.”
The arrangement aligns with their values, such as ensuring at least one parent attends events involving their children.
Chris says other standards they set themselves are to surround themselves with great role models, their children to have stable schooling, being part of a strong community and to be great stewards of the land.
While motivated to grow the business financially Chris says that will be a consequence of achieving their other goals.
Josh and Becs Dondertman have managed large dairy farms in Tasmania, Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay and Culverden but are now content to contract milk a 780-cow property at Rangitata, Mid Canterbury.
Josh says the job meets all their criteria of working with people who are supportive, driven and successful, offers a work-life balance while still providing a challenge and the opportunity to continue developing skills and knowledge.
“We truly believe that if you line up all of those things, profits will come,” Becs says.
Spending time with their young family is a high priority.
After graduating from Massey University they initially worked in Tasmania before shifting to a 1500-cow Manawatu farm.
The move to a manager’s role with BEL Group Dairies in Hawke’s Bay saw them manage 12 staff on a 2400-cow farm, a role which grew their skills in management, leadership and systems.
“Systems, systems, systems – you can’t do large-scale dairy without them,” Becs says.
The shift to Culverden added to their skill and knowledge, overseeing the conversion of land to dairying, the construction of sheds and infrastructure and managing several farms.
Becs says they are not afraid of taking risks, which they feel they get from running large-scale dairy farms.
When Filipino Aldrene Fabela landed in south Otago in the middle of the 2007 winter to start a career in the dairy industry, he was too scared to turn on the electric blanket in case he was electrocuted.
He had never seen snow but the weather was not his only problem.
He was away from his family and being the only Filipino in the area he did not know anyone and had no one to talk to.
A relative found him a job at Otautau, Southland, where he soon progressed to managing a 1200-cow herd.
Fabela says he studied agricultural courses in his spare time and also learnt artificial insemination. In 2009 was a finalist in the dairy farmer trainee of the year.
In 2012 he was appointed farm manager on Ross and Donna McKenzie’s farm at Riverton and says it is his goal to stay working for the McKenzies, who are very supportive.
His other goal is to buy a home for his family, who are now NZ citizens.
