8 Dairy Focus November 2013
Scholar proves award’s worth
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pplications for the 2014 Hugh Williams Ravensdown Memorial Scholarship are now open. Started in 2000 to commemorate the late Hugh Williams, a Ravensdown director from 19872000, the scholarship provides $5000 a year for sons and daughters of Ravensdown shareholders to undertake an agricultural or horticultural degree. Zach Ward was the first Hugh Williams Scholar, in 2000. More than a decade on and he is now the production manager for Chile-based New Zealand dairy company Manuka, managing a team of 240 people and 25,500 cows. After graduating, Mr Ward was offered a job at Fonterra and worked for the dairy cooperative for three-and-a-half years. While there, he met Mark Townshend who was a director at the time. Mr Townshend established the Manuka project in Chile and Mr Ward leapt at the chance to be involved. His job is to drive production. “A typical day involves working closely with the supervisors to ensure we are executing the
plan and responding to any challenges that come our way, especially climate related ones that impact on grass growth and feed supply,” he says. “The other big part of my job is staying six to 12 months ahead of where we are. Everything needs to be planned and anticipated well in advance.” Mr Ward says receiving the Hugh Williams Scholarship gave him confidence to pursue a career in agriculture. It also allowed him to focus more on his studies and extra curricula activities at university. “I was able to put a fair bit of time into other activities and did a lot of debating at university and still do quite well academically,” Mr Ward says. “All of this helped open the doors that have led me to where I am today. That is to say, my grades and experiences at university are what got me the job at Fonterra and my job at Fonterra is what exposed me to the experiences and people that got me the job I have today.’’ Adrienne Williams, wife of the late Mr Williams, says it has been a delight to be involved with the
Zach Ward, the first Hugh Williams Scholar, in 2000, is now the production manager for Manuka, a Chile-based New Zealand dairy company.
selection and follow up of the scholars for the past 13 years. “To have my dear Hugh’s name on such a great programme gives me endless pleasure,” she says. “We wanted to see young people encouraged into agriculture and this certainly seems to be the outcome. I’d especially like to commend all the applicants over the years for their commitment to the industry and to their families for the support they have given them.’’ Ravensdown chairman Bill
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McLeod says the co-operative is proud of past scholars, who have all gone on to play important roles within the agriculture industry. Mr McLeod says Ravensdown awards the scholarship to young people who demonstrate passion and a deep understanding of agribusiness, and who have shown that they are capable of the hard work which will be required to succeed and become outstanding in their field. “Previous recipients have achieved this and are now taking
leading roles in their profession and showing the success of this worthy programme,” Mr McLeod says. “The Hugh Williams Ravensdown Memorial Scholarship offers Ravensdown a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to outstanding young New Zealand students pursuing a career in agriculture.” • Applications for the Hugh Williams Ravensdown Memorial Scholarship close December 6.
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