Q&A Owl Farm: Growing the Next Generation of Farming
Nestled alongside the Waikato River in Cambridge, Owl Farm is far more than your typical dairy operation. As a 142-hectare working commercial farm, it sits at the intersection of innovation, education, and sustainability, a place where proven farming practices are not only implemented but shared with the wider community and industry. Formed through a unique partnership between Lincoln University and St Peter’s School, Owl Farm has spent the past decade opening its gates to thousands of visitors, while providing students with hands-on, real-world experiences in agriculture. With a strong focus on shaping the future of sustainable farming, it continues to lead by example, connecting people to the land and inspiring the next generation along the way. We chatted with the team at Owl Farm to learn more about what makes this place so special. QUESTIONS - Brenda Donaldson, RCM ANSWERS - Jo Sheridan, Owl Farm
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For those who may not be familiar, can you tell us a little about Owl Farm and what makes it so unique? Owl Farm is a 142-hectare working commercial dairy farm, situated around St Peter's School in Cambridge, and nestled alongside the Waikato River. What is unique about it is that, as a working commercial dairy farm, we aim to demonstrate proven practices and techniques to create a sustainable future. We have the capacity to showcase this to the wider dairy industry, open our gates to the community, and enhance student engagement and learning through the activities we run on the property. We have recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the joint venture, which created Owl Farm between Lincoln University and St Peter’s Cambridge. COMMUNITY CONNECTION You’ve just hosted 550+ visitors at your recent Public Open Day. What does that level of community engagement mean to Owl Farm? Our annual public open day is always a massively rewarding event, made possible only by the commitment of our partners and many of our local farmers. It is one of around seventy events we host on-farm every year, with an average of 2000 visitors to the farm each year. We’ve had over 24,000 people at Owl Farm since its inception 10 years ago! How do events like this help bridge the gap between farming and the public? When we run events like this, it allows the
public to come inside the gates, ask questions about our farming practices, and better understand the care and attention that go into providing highquality products to the market. It also highlights opportunities within the dairy industry. Knowledge builds understanding and appreciation of the value we add to our community. PARTNERSHIPS WITH ST PETER'S How does your partnership with St Peter’s School shape the vision and purpose of Owl Farm? The farm and the surrounding land have always been a part of St Peter’s School for over 90 years, providing food and resources for the students. This has been pivotal in shaping Owl Farm’s vision, grounding it in education and handson learning. It allows us to integrate student engagement directly into farm operations. How do students benefit from having direct access to a working farm environment? Students benefit through hands-on, realworld experience, applying classroom learning directly to farm systems while developing practical skills for future careers. How important is it for young people to understand agriculture and sustainability from an early age? It is crucial to win the hearts and minds of young people, helping them see a future for themselves in agriculture while understanding that farming can be both productive and environmentally responsible.