Connecting through farming
Being so community focused, Danielle Hovmand found moving to a new area daunting, but she says joining the local New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) club, Morrinsville Ngarua, was a game changer.
“The club allowed me to build a community around me,” Danielle says.
“When you’re new to a place, being able to go into town and someone waves and says hi because they recognise you makes you feel like you have a place.”
She got into dairying after studying Agricultural Science at Massey University, progressing from summer placements to a junior manager role on her grandparents’ Katikati Hereford stud.
After a few seasons there, she moved to Patetonga, Waikato, where she joined Young Farmers. Now, Danielle and her partner, builder Harry Phipps, are sharemilking 250 cows near Morrinsville. The couple met through Young Farmers too. Danielle has been involved in committees and volunteered her time to organise events. A lot of club activities raise funds for charity too.
“When I moved to Morrinsville, I didn’t know anyone, but thanks to the network I’ve built through Young Farmers, I can go into the community and ask for help and ask them to be involved.
“It’s nice to be out there with the people and do something for others.”
