Holly Powell is tucking away a few tricks of the trade for a major dairy event after picking them up at a skills camp. in .
The 19-year-old was among 21 young handlers to attend the World Wide Sires National All Dairy Breeds Youth Camp organised by Holstein Friesian NZ at the Rangiora A&P showgrounds.
"I've been to four camps now and every year you pick up little pieces and tricks to make the animals look as good as possible, just picking up tricks to do the top line and the belly hair."
She was able to put these tricks into practice at the three-day NZ Dairy Event at Feilding, as part of a team from the Radly Holstein stud of about 400 pedigree Holsteins, owned by her parents, Brad and Kelly Powell, at Manawatu's Rongotea.
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The stud had put cattle into the dairy event the past six years - with some good results, she said.
Leaving school in 2020 after finishing Year 12, she knew a career in the dairy breeding industry was for her.
Today she is working as a farm assistant at Manawato's Maire Farm which has 700 pedigree Holsteins.
Powell was singled out for praise among the handlers, aged from 10 to 21, who came from around the country for the Rangiora camp.
As well as the Paramount Cup for top all-rounder, she also won the Top Senior Handler award.
Held over four days, the camp brings young people together to make friends and learn about animal behaviour and care, and they take part in a mini-show and team-building activities.
Depending on their age, each participant is given the responsibility of looking after a 10-month or 4-month-old animal with Holstein, Friesian, Jersey or Ayrshire bloodlines.
Educational modules include genomics, clipping, animal health and photography, as well as an on-farm visit.
"I love seeing all the young ones come through and it's really cool seeing the next generation get going," Powell said.
Holstein Friesian NZ field officer Amelia Griffin said the handlers got a lot out of the camp, learning to do a full body clip, a top-line - spiking up the top hair with hair spray to ensure the spine looks straight to the eye - and belly hair as they would for an A&P show.
Griffin said she was amazed by the progress they made in such a short span every year.
"We provide some helpers, but it's their responsibility to make sure it's all done and the animals are ready for the show on the final day.
"Maybe 90 per cent of the animals have never been used to a show before so they are barely broken in and we had one animal which lasted five minutes in the ring."
Griffin said the handlers benefited from the experience of dairy breeders who gave their time for the camp, which was a step up from calf clubs.
"We have kids coming from all backgrounds. Most of them this year are farming kids, but it's just about kids who like cows. That's the main criteria." -Otago Daily Times
