Waikato dairy farmer Jimmy Cleaver is a 23-year-old farm manager who is passionate about his work in the dairy sector and looking after his team. "I went dairy farming because of the possibilities it offers me. Not many jobs allow you to climb the ladder as quickly, becoming a farm manager by 19 and then be able to go off sharemilking by 26," Cleaver says. "I get to work with a fantastic team, be outdoors with animals, while still enjoying a good lifestyle, including being able to get off farm and pursue my hobbies by going hunting or diving.
"I always encourage people to give it a go and see if you like it. I believe that you never know how you will find it until you just get stuck in." Cleaver was named Auckland/Hauraki dairy manager of the year at the 2022 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards and received the national DairyNZ people and leadership award. "The first year I entered the dairy industry awards in 2021, I went in with an open mindset. I was young and just wanted to see what a young person could achieve, and see what I could learn and improve on," Cleaver says. "When I entered this year, our farm had just had a very good year. I had taken on the feedback from the year before, and ahead of the awards night I knew that I had done everything I could do to win.
"Looking at my future goals, I want to go sharemilking in a few years' time, and I already own some of my own cows to help achieve this. My other goal is to be able to offer others the same opportunities I have received, as I am grateful and want to pass that on to others." DairyNZ's GoDairy programme continues its recruitment drive showcasing careers, like Jimmy Cleaver's, in the dairy sector. DairyNZ strategy and investment leader Nick Robinson says the sector continues to encourage Kiwis to join the sector, as one-third of dairy farms seek to fill on-farm vacancies. "The dairy sector provides 37,000 on-farm jobs for Kiwis. We want to continue to recruit good people, and there are plenty of opportunities out there for keen Kiwis to join us and get involved, while starting on great salaries and having clear progression pathways," Robinson says. There are plenty of opportunities for young Kiwis to start on a good salary and be promoted into management roles. Farm managers can earn over $100,000. Becoming self-employed as a farm owner or sharemilker is another option on the career ladder.
Many farms offer reasonably priced on-farm accommodation, which means no commute to work or daily travel costs, helping them save for future goals.
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Dairy farm teams work closely with animals, help protect the environment, contribute to their local community and, Robinson says, are making a difference to the future of New Zealand. -DairyNZ
