TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
MARCH 2018
7
100 IT’S NOT A TARGET
Helping out on the 100ha Kaponga dairy farm to form South Taranaki Young Farmers last year. Amelia now lives on a 100ha Kaponga farm with her partner Benjamin, milking 320 cows. Every second weekend, she can be found in the cowshed milking the herd. She also helps out during spring with calf feeding and other tasks. The couple have set goals to buy their own herd and eventually own a farm. Amelia has found living in a rural community feels similar to belonging to an extended family, pulling together in tough times. “For example, given the bad payout we had a couple of years ago, Fonterra Farm Source Taranaki started a volunteer programme where we offered
time, money or food to the wider farming community to support our farmers.” Amelia appreciates the community formed through Young Farmers too. “No matter what you have going on in your life, there is always someone there to support you,” she said. “And the social aspect provides opportunities to some farmers who don’t often have the chance to get off the farm.” Fonterra’s Hawera offices provided the venue for the launch of the South Taranaki Young Farmers Club in September. The club will provide a social outlet for young people from Patea to Pihama and across to Kaponga. Amelia said she was stoked with the large turnout, which saw new members
signing up on the night. Growing the club and increasing its awareness around the community is one of her goals as chairperson. “I would like to get Best Club at the annual FMG Young Farmer of the Year,” she said. Amelia also plans to continue working with Fonterra and complete her master’s degree in business administration. “I want to be a chief executive officer, chief information officer, or senior people and culture leader in a mediumsized firm,” she said. “My personal mission is to have a positive impact and influence on everyone I come across in my life journey.”
est. 1981
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