‘Bit of everything’ for dairy trainee
| Published date | 24 April 2024 |
| Publication title | Central Rural Life |
The 22-year-old herd manager was raised in the dairying community of Taranaki’s Stratford and at one stage was considering a career outside of dairying despite strong ties.
‘‘I was born in Taranaki on a dairy farm and have been on a dairy farm my entire life.
‘‘I feel my passion for dairy cattle really started through showing them.
‘‘Throughout my school years all I wanted to do as a little girl was be a vet.’’
In her last year before graduating with an agricultural science degree at Massey University, she started looking for a job. Along the way, she came across the Grassroots programme fast-tracking smart youngsters into management.
Feeling this tied in with her ambitions, she successfully applied for the graduate programme.
One thing led to another and she got a job as a herd manager for contract milker Steven and Rosie Ketter on Leighton and Michelle Pyes’ 241ha farm early last year.
Growing into the role, she’s required to do a ‘‘bit of everything’’, and is taking charge more in areas such as pasture management and monthly shed hygiene checks.
‘‘I really enjoy working with cows and getting outside every day is one of my favourite things.
‘‘I enjoy the team I work with on the farm ... and they’re a good team of people who share the same passion.
‘‘We can have really good discussions about things and I enjoy that.
‘‘We’re all about the same age so we’re really good friends and we do things outside which is really good for on-farm [balance] as well.’’
Her swift scale up the initial rungs of the dairying ladder impressed judges in the region’s Dairy Industry awards to name her ahead of Harry Finch and third-placed Dan Griffins for the trainee title.
They singled out for her energy, methodical approach, passion and willingness to learn and improve.
At a field day in Southbridge celebrating the share farmer, manager and dairy trainee winners, Miss Radford revealed she had a couple of fast-approaching goals.
One of them is already locked in with a marriage ceremony set for March with her partner, also from Taranaki and working now in Ashburton.
‘‘I’m getting married next year so that will be exciting and after the wedding I would really like to accumulate some stock, which would be cool.’’
Generously, her parents have offered to pay for their honeymoon flights to the Pacific, and another gift of sorts is...
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