3 minute read
Alumni share benefits of partner programmes
Building critical thinking and connecting with like-minded people within the agriculture industry have been common takeaways for participants in Farmlands’ partner Rural Leaders’ Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme and Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarship.
Applications for both programmes are open, closing 14th November. The Farmlander caught up with two of the alumni to find out what the programmes gave them and why you should apply.
What prompted you to join the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme?
Bryan: Personal growth was a big driver for me. I wanted to be leading people so saw the programme as an opportunity to grow my leadership skills and meet other interesting people in the primary sector. Ed: I’ve been in agriculture all my life and knew it was a well-regarded leadership and learning platform. I’m a farmer and increasing my people management, presentation and networking skills was an important factor. For Nuffield it was an extension of this – I’m in the 2020 programme so we haven’t managed to make it overseas except for a short trip to Australia just before lockdown, but we are making the most of an unfortunate situation.
What did you learn from the programme?
Bryan: Before going into the programme I’d been thinking about the commentary throughout the industry around change and how it felt like it was all happening around us instead of us being a part of it. I wanted to look into if the industry was ready for change and if we could get recognised and premium dollar for it. The programme refined that topic into my end report, “The Triple Bottom Line”. I also went into the programme wanting to explore areas of growth with leadership of people. Interestingly, following a restructure within Farmlands in late 2020, I went into a role where I wasn’t leading people anymore. The Kellogg programme changed the way I looked at leadership and gave me more of a focus on influencing others rather than direct leadership. The power of curiosity has helped me in many situations post completing Kellogg. Ed: I enjoyed the whole exercise, both the Kellogg and Nuffield programmes. It definitely gave me leverage and increased my skill set around public speaking and critical thinking. My purchase of Jericho Station was a couple of years after the programme and it was quite public but I put the Kellogg experience down to aiding in getting the result I was after. Without the Kellogg experience I’m not sure if I would have achieved that as it really gave me the communication and attention to detail skills. The Nuffield Scholarship has been about education on what systems are available within the agriculture industry to get more people into agriculture. It’s meant I’ve been able to get a very broad view of where New Zealand stands in the global market and gained more perspective on where farmers need to be going in the future.
What advice would you give someone wanting to apply to the Kellogg programme or Nuffield scholarship?
Bryan: Trust yourself and dive in. The Kellogg programme gives you the confidence to be able to go into a room and know that your questions and presence is valid. You are put in front of big leaders in the industry and given the opportunity to explore your own mind and embrace curiosity. Ed: Give it a go, it’s a lot of work but very rewarding. You come out of it with great networks and are surrounded by like-minded people who all support each other. My group learnt a lot and still keep in contact now – we mentor each other.
| Bryan (Barny) Milne, Farmlands’ Category Manager – Fuel and Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme participant 2020. | Ed Pickney, owner/director of Jericho Station, Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme 2016 and Nuffield New Zealand Farming Scholarship 2020.
