National dairy trainee winner ‘loves science’ Working with scientists has been a great experience for an enthusiastic young agricultural science graduate, as Ann-Marie Case-Miller explains.
Grace puts a cow on the top of the list of things she would want to take to a desert island.
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race Gibberd makes an impression from the moment you meet her. She’s warm, friendly and articulate and it’s soon evident she possesses a broad general knowledge as the conversation flows from the Chiefs rugby woes to her thoughts on the future of the dairy industry in New Zealand. It’s nothing less than you’d expect from the Waikato woman who was named 2020 Dairy Trainee of the Year at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards televised event in July. The 22-year-old grew up on a lifestyle block in Horotiu with “a house cow, some beefies and a few pet sheep.” It was in Year 13 at Hamilton Christian School that her future was determined when she chose ag science over PE. “It felt like a risky decision at the time because I didn’t know if I’d even like ag science. However, I knew I wanted an outdoors job and that a degree would be a good way to give me a 82
crash course on all things farming.” Grace received a DairyNZ undergraduate scholarship and is grateful to her DairyNZ mentor for the support and encouragement during her time of study. “I did have people ask me why I was ‘doing a degree to go farming’ when I could just go farming. I like science and I knew that I could apply that farming knowledge to other careers like soil science or agronomy if dairying didn’t work out.” But it has worked out – and very well. The first-time entrant into the Awards won the Waikato Dairy Trainee title in March and went on to win the national title as well as Federated Farmers Farming Knowledge and DairyNZ Practical Skills merit awards. “I was so excited when it was announced national judging was going ahead. I knew it would be a challenge for the organisers and I really respected their decision to go ahead and make online judging work.”
The national judges said Grace displayed an exceptional overall understanding and general knowledge and was clear, confident and articulate with her answers. They predict Grace will be a great ambassador and role model for the dairy industry. “That was an amazing comment and I felt a bit of pressure, but not in a bad way,” says Grace. “I thought that was so cool that they could see that, and I hope that I can just live up to the expectation and be a good role model for the dairy industry.” Her science degree has stood her in good stead in her role as a farm assistant at DairyNZ’s 115ha research farm in Newstead, on the outskirts of Hamilton. “Being able to understand what scientists are talking about when they’re speaking science language is extremely helpful! I definitely don’t know everything and have to ask a lot of questions, but having that science background helps,” Grace explains.
Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | August 2020
