“Outside of dairying you can have a job as a fencer, a plumber, or a harvester but in dairying you can be all those and 20 more in one day,” says Sarah Powell, the 21-year-old winner of the 2023 Manawatū Dairy Trainee of the Year title.

Sarah, who is farm assistant on Fonterra’s 283-hectare, 600-cow Longburn farm, won $7100 in prizes and one merit award.

Dairying wasn’t her first choice of career. “After I left college at Whangārei I took a gap year, working on a hydroponics farm before deciding to study ag science at Massey University.”

As part of her first-year practicum Sarah went to work at Longburn Farm.

“After one month I was hooked on dairying and couldn’t leave.”

Sarah wishes more young people could experience that kind of introduction to dairying as she’s sure many would, like her, fall in love with the industry and the lifestyle.

“I really needed to experience dairying first hand to find out it was the job for me. It would be great if more young people could do the same. I think you need to realise every farm is different and if one farm is not for you that doesn’t mean the industry is not for you.

“I spent my childhood on a 90ha dairy heifer grazing and beef farm in Northland which is where I learned to love the outdoors, but up until my current position, I hadn’t spent any time working in the dairy industry.”

The first-time entrant is excited to see what else technology is going to bring to the industry.

“It’s evident over the years just how big a role technology has had in influencing the direction of the industry, from apps on our phone through to collars on cows.

“All technology makes work easier but one of the things which fascinates me is the herd testing by LIC and the data which comes from that in MINDA. It provides everything you want to know about a cow’s ancestry, milk production, reproduction and more. It’s amazing we can know so much about one animal and use that knowledge to make decisions.”

Sarah, excited to be among the increasing number of women in dairying, would like to see a change in farmers’ routines to help create a better work/life balance, minimising fatigue and social isolation.

Studying towards PrimaryITO Level 4 Dairy, Sarah says her focus is about learning and taking any opportunities that arise. Farming goals include progressing to a farm management position.

Jessie Russell was runner-up in the Dairy Trainee category with Courtney West in third place.