Singing the praises of dairying

Tasha has a range of waiata she likes to sing to the cows in the dairy shed.

Going from traffic management to dairy assistant has been inspirational for a GoDairy graduate, as Anne-Marie Case-Miller reports.

Tasha Morgan can’t stop now is completely different from city smiling. living to actually living and working in the “I just love dairy farming! I love the country,” Tasha explains. “I used to go down and talk to the Fast Facts cows, they are just calves, and then I asked Harry if I could amazing animals. I help raise them and he said yes, so I began Tasha’s Top Cow Waiata: even love milking! I to help by rearing calves and from there Tiaho Mai Ra just love what I am doing, it’s amazing.” Harry and Winton taught me to milk so I Mr Postman - LaTasha Lee

“I never, ever thought I’d be dairy was able to do relief milking.” Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder farming, never ever in my life! And now Researching dairy farming education My Dearest Darling – LaTasha Lee look at me. I’m here and going places,” online led Tasha to the GoDairy Tēnā Rā Koe – Stan Walker says Tasha. programme offered by DairyNZ. Please Don’t Go – Six60

What began as an accommodation GoDairy is designed to attract people arrangement has become a new lease on to work in the dairy sector. It offers Farm life for the former city girl, with her new Ready Training, which is entry-level role as a farm assistant on Harry Janssen training to help people find out what it’s job opportunities in dairy – and it has and Winton Bebbington’s 300 cow, 130ha like to work on a farm and learn some a big emphasis on ensuring newcomers farm at Hampton Downs. farming basics. The training includes a understand farm life before they arrive.

“I was working in traffic management for week of online learning followed by two Anyone interested in taking part can sign Higgins so I was used to working outside weeks of practical training on a farm. up at godairy.co.nz. in all sorts of weather, but what I’m doing GoDairy is about creating awareness of Tasha has completed the first week, with

“They are such beautiful beasts, beautiful little women. I talk and sing to them, and I sing to the calves as well.”

the final two weeks in October, after being delayed by Covid-19. “It’s an awesome course with very, very nice people,” says Tasha.

“The first week was around the basics of the New Zealand dairy industry, the second week will be focused on animals and the final week will be on vehicles and machinery.”

Tasha says she has learnt so much already, both from working onfarm and through the GoDairy programme.

“This has been the best move for me, I absolutely love what I do and they say if you have a job and you love it, you will do it every day.”

Tasha’s love for the cows is what gets her up in the morning and is also what she loves most about dairy farming.

“They are such beautiful beasts, beautiful little women. I talk and sing to them, and I sing to the calves as well,” she laughs.

Tasha credits her bosses for her career satisfaction and says if it wasn’t for them, she wouldn’t be dairy farming. “They are very encouraging, reliable, trustworthy and helpful. They have taught me so much.”

Harry and Winton are just as happy with the working arrangement. “We are very lucky to have her,” they say. “She has no bad habits and isn’t afraid to ask questions.”

“The GoDairy programme is an excellent service and has given her the confidence and knowledge to ask ‘Why’.”

Tasha encourages any young person considering dairying as a career to enrol in the GoDairy programme.

“Give it a go and ask lots of questions, it’s the only way you’re going to learn. If you don’t like to read, then ask questions and do, and you’ll learn that way.”

“GoDairy is free and the first week will determine whether dairy farming is for you,” says Tasha. “Through the course you actually get to work with animals and it will give you some ideas about what it’s going to be like when working on a farm.”

Tasha is very proud of her farming assistant role and of the calves she has reared. “They’re like my little babies, I still walk up

Tasha credits her bosses Harry Janssen and Winton Bebbington for her career satisfaction. there and sing to them! Those calves are my proudest moment and there’s one that I saw being born, take her first steps and have her first drink. I named her Gina!”

Tasha is also proud of herself for pushing through the challenges of injuries. “I have carpal tunnel in both hands and torn ligaments in my knee, but I just push through and do the work.”

Tasha is getting used to the early morning starts and says “being pooed on in the shed” is her least favourite moment in the role so far. “Thank heaven for aprons,” she laughs.

Remembering the different cleaning routines and procedures in the shed has also been challenging. “I’ve never done that in my life and there’s so much to remember!”

Tasha’s future farming goal includes managing a dairy farm. “This isn’t just a job, it’s a career and the sky’s the limit. I love that at the end of the day I know I’ve done what I can to help the cows.”

“Even if you think you don’t want to go dairy farming, you should do the GoDairy programme,” advises Tasha. “Look at me. I didn’t want to go farming, and now I’m working on a farm and doing GoDairy!”

“Life is good.”

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