Farming a gift and a privilege
Dairy farming is something Aaron Courage has never taken for granted. The 19-year-old Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year at the Dairy Industry Awards considers working in the industry a gift and a privilege.
His pet hate is when other people in the industry do not try to attain to a similar high standard, said Courage at a field day at the Putaruru dairy farm where share farmer winners Steve Gillies and Amy Johnson work.
‘‘As a young farmer [I think] we have got to take responsibility for and improve on being responsible for our actions and portraying a good image to urban dwellers.’’
He said the industry was creating and selling a food product and the customer was always right.
‘‘We are upholding a service for people and I think it’s important that we uphold a good image otherwise dairy farming isn’t going to be around in a few years.’’
Courage grew up in Gloriavale Christian Community on the West Coast.
Just over five years ago, he left at 14 years of age to finish his schooling in Australia.
He moved back to New Zealand as a 16-year-old to work in Fairlie, South Canterbury, as a farm assistant for two years.
It was here, he got the best piece of advice he had ever received, he said.
‘‘As a 16-years-old, you tend to make a few boo boos and with all of the breakages and squashings, something my first employer hammered into me was, don’t ever give up.’’
Courage said at the time the advice did not mean much, but looking back now he realised its value.
‘‘It really was a good thing to be telling me at that stage of my career, just starting out professionally and learning the skills to get to where I am today. Even now it still resonates with me - don’t ever give up.’’
He then moved to Dannevirke where he worked as another farm assistant in a more senior role before being promoted to secondin-charge of the operation.
In August last year, he moved to Otorohanga, Waikato for an assistant manager’s role for his current employers, Stewart and Kathryn Anderson.
‘‘The reason I did take that job is they have the top breeding worth (BW) herd in the country and [cow] breeding has always been a pet passion of mine. It was the opportunity I had been looking for.’’
BW is a measurement used that calculates an animal’s genetic ability to breed replacements. The Anderson’s farm has an average of 152/99.
Courage said he was glad he made the move and had learned a lot about breeding in the past six or seven months that he would have not learned elsewhere.
‘‘I’m extremely privileged to be where I am,’’ he said.
His long term goal is to become a farm owner in 12 years. Along the way, Courage aimed to be lower order sharemilking or go contract milking with the Andersons within the next five years.
‘‘At the moment I’m focused on breeding some good animals. A few months ago, I brought my first heifer, a rising two-year-old and she’s got a contract with LIC and I flushed her the other day and I got 17 embryos, so that was a good result.’’
He also bought shares in a friesian cow based in the South Island and has the goal of getting a bull within LIC’s Premier Sire team in the next five years.
‘‘I see it as a way of improving the industry, breeding good animals and that’s really where I want to set my future.’’