Youth camp reveals rising stars

Published date26 January 2023
Publication titleNorthern Advocate, The (Whangarei, New Zealand)
The 19-year-old was among 21 young handlers to attend the World Wide Sires National All Dairy Breeds Youth Camp organised by Holstein Friesian NZ at the Rangiora A&P showgrounds

“I’ve been to four camps now and every year you pick up little pieces and tricks to make the animals look as good as possible, just picking up tricks to do the top line and the belly hair.”

She was able to put these tricks into practice at the three-day NZ Dairy Event at Feilding, as part of a team from the Radly Holstein stud of about 400 pedigree Holsteins, owned by her parents, Brad and Kelly Powell, at Manawatu’s Rongotea.

The stud had put cattle into the dairy event the past six years — with some good results, she said.

Leaving school in 2020 after finishing Year 12, she knew a career in the dairy breeding industry was for her.

Today she is working as a farm assistant at Manawatō’s Maire Farm which has 700 pedigree Holsteins.

Powell was singled out for praise among the handlers, aged from 10 to 21, who came from around the country for the Rangiora camp.

As well as the Paramount Cup for top all-rounder, she also won the Top Senior Handler award.

Held over four days, the camp brings young people together to make friends and learn about animal behaviour and care, and they take part in a mini-show and team-building activities.

Depending on their age, each participant is given the responsibility of looking after a 10-month or 4-month-old animal with Holstein, Friesian, Jersey or Ayrshire...

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