Waikato Share Farmer winner ready

irty-three-year-old Aleisha Broom eld has won the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards

2023 Waikato Share Farmer of the Year award and four merit awards. It caused a bit of a stir as she is the rst solo female farmer to win the category in Waikato.

“I’m not at all hung up on that fact. e only thing I think it illustrates is that farming can be a successful and rewarding career for any gender, so if me winning reinforces that, then I am happy,” says Aleisha.

“I just appreciate the recognition of my hard work.”

She was runner-up in the same category in 2022, and wanted to enter again and use the experience to work on her business and any weaker areas that were identi ed last year.

Becoming a farmer

Her Dad’s family were always farming, and Aleisha believes farming is in her DNA. ere is a long line of farmers on her father’s side. Her grandfather bought her mum’s family out from England, and they moved into farming by accident and absolutely love it.

“ ey stopped in Springdale to repair a at tyre, got talking and my grandfather was told to go farming as it’s a great lifestyle. So they stayed in the area and the rest is history.”

Aleisha’s dad passed away recently and her mum still owns three farms in the Morrinsville area.

“I grew up on farms and was very involved as a young child, but my mum was a schoolteacher and placed education as a top priority.” is resulted in a Bachelor of Agricultural Science with First Class Honours from Lincoln University, followed by a New Zealand Diploma in Agri-business. Aleisha then worked as a DairyNZ consulting o cer and a Primary ITO tutor.. “With my family background and the fact that I absolutely love cows and working with animals, I always knew I wanted to end up farming.”

Aleisha started her current position of 50/50 herd owning sharemilker on the Dibble Family’s Tauhei Farms Ltd 86-hectare Te Aroha Farm in June 2019. With Michelle Crawford, her assistant herd manager, they milk 245 cows.

“Calving is one of my favourite times of year and I take pride in having an 82 per cent six-week in-calf rate, growing exceptional youngstock, excellent pasture management, and having happy healthy cows with low SCC and high production. “I’m always looking for ways to develop and I’ve been doing lots of training to improve my business and keep motivated.” eir own farm

Her business strengths and excellent cost control has allowed her to make strong pro ts each year and build equity.

Aleisha initially met her partner, James Courtman, about 10 years ago at Young Farmers. ey reconnected more recently while going to sur ng for farmers at Waihi Beach and became a couple. ey still try and go sur ng each week during summer and see it as important time away from farming.