School: Trident High School

University: Massey University, Year 2, 2021

Degree: Bachelor of Agricultural Science

My main goal for the future is to focus on the growth of both production and quality of the inputs and outputs associated with the dairy sector in New Zealand, with a main focus on the effects agronomy has on these areas of dairy.

Over the past four years I have worked hands-on with the day to day running of a dairy farm in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, gaining first hand knowledge of the positives and negatives associated with the current practices within the dairy sector. This experience has encouraged my passion towards agriculture and has enticed me to build my knowledge and pursue a degree in Agricultural Science.

With this degree I plan on implementing my practical knowledge to improve the practices farmers currently use whilst also looking at ways of introducing new and improved practices to further grow the dairy industry. I plan on focusing my knowledge on the agronomy side of dairy where I will look at how different feed/supplements affect different aspects of both the animal and the animals bi-products and how we as agriculturalists can further grow the NZ dairy sector in this way.

The DairyNZ mentoring programme has given me the opportunity to connect with like minded, driven people and has enabled me to further develop relationships with pairs alike and enabled an interaction between varying year levels allowing different knowledge and experiences to positively influence one another.