Growing the next generation of farmers

On dairy farms across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, students are gaining hands-on dairying experience, learning on-farm alongside experienced Fonterra farmers who know that the future of dairy depends on those who come next.

Growing Future Farmers is an established, farmer-led programme that has already supported young people into sheep, beef and deer farming. This dairy pilot builds on that experience, introducing young people to dairying through hands-on learning, combined with formal study. Co-designed by Growing Future Farmers and Fonterra, the two-year pilot is focused on helping young people understand the value of the Co-operative and see a long-term future in dairy.

Starting small, the pilot pairs seven students with seven Fonterra farmer trainers across Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Students spend four days a week on-farm and one day studying towards an NZQA accredited qualification, while farmer trainers provide day-to-day mentoring, practical skills and a supportive farming environment.
 

For 18-year-old Janaeya Cooper from Mount Maunganui, the programme is a clear pathway into an industry she wants to grow in.

“I want to step straight into a farm assistant role, and eventually I want to be a farm owner selling my milk to Fonterra,” she says. “I just really enjoy being outdoors. Being stuck in an office was not for me. Even if I’m drenched in rain, it makes me very happy.”

Not all students come from farming backgrounds, but motivation and curiosity are key. Eighteen-year-old Troy Lyness from Auckland says the programme has opened doors that may not have otherwise been available.

“There are lots of options, like going to university, but I’ve decided farming’s where I want to be,” Troy says. “Not coming from a farming background, this programme really helps with connections and opportunities to progress through the dairy industry and hopefully to [farm] ownership one day.”
 

Before stepping on-farm, students complete an orientation focused on safety, skills and confidence, from milk quality and tanker awareness to farm vehicles and equipment, ensuring they’re set up well from day one.

For farmer trainers, the programme allows them to share knowledge and experience, supporting young people as they learn what dairying involves day to day.

Group Director of Farm Source Anne Douglas says the programme is about strengthening the future of the Co-operative and the wider dairy sector.

“These young people are embarking on an amazing two-year programme to learn both the knowledge and practical skills to hopefully become the future of the dairy industry,” Anne says. “A huge thanks goes out to our farmer trainers and their families who are supporting these students.”

While the pilot is intentionally small, it’s designed to evolve over time, guided by farmer feedback and real-world learning.

For the students involved and the farmers supporting them, Growing Future Farmers is about passing skills on and helping ensure the future of the Co-op is in good hands.