The Country 02/05/25: Jo Sheridan talks to Jamie Mackay

The 2025 Dairy Woman of the Year is a Waikato farmer and teacher/manager at the Owl Farm.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
She was crowned last night the twenty twenty five Fonterra
Dairy Woman of the Year. She joins us on the show.
Congratulations Joe Sheridan. You're a Ycado farmer from Perongia and
you're also the ol Farm demonstration manager. Tell us about
our farm at Saint Peter's College in Cambridge.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Congratulations by the way, Joe, Thanks Jamie, our farms, our
farm's one hundred and forty height Peer Dewy demonstration farm
and the heart of boykto So we keep ourselves pretty
busy hosting and engaging with students and teachers around career
pathways and the food and FIB Detector.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
And also helping support our world community around transition, our
systems to make sure that the future proof and making
sure the their industries moving forward in the right direction.

Speaker 1 (00:51):
Would it be fair to say Saint Peter's in Cambridge
and I'm trying to think of other schools that really
have good AD programs. Mount Albert Graham is another one
that springs to mind. Are you leading the charge?

Speaker 3 (01:03):
We do what we can in our local areas. It's
really important that each of the regions have a place
where students and teachers can cinet and have on time experiences.
So we're really lucky for the fact that we're so
central and we can connect with so many of our
schools throughout the Waykno and bad painting, but yeah, we
hope to be part of that picture, that's for sure. Jamie.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
What's your background and daring because I know you grew
up in what a Taranaki dairy farm or on a
Taranaki deary FM.

Speaker 3 (01:30):
Yeah, born and bred Taranaki farmer, that's right. And my background.
I went off to UNI, fell in love with tools,
as every young laders, and that's soon tuned into a
love of the beer industry. So I've been involved for
the last twenty five years, whether it's in real professional
roles or more recently within my own business and now in

(01:50):
student education.

Speaker 1 (01:52):
How much time do you get to get the hands
dirty on farm? I try to ask your other half
that one as.

Speaker 3 (02:01):
Much as possible. I think that's the bit I love
the most. Has been out helping support and watch things grow.
So I'm just in my heavy place when I'm out
on the farm, working with people, particularly telling the stories
and sharing the experiences.

Speaker 1 (02:16):
When we're out on farm, it must have been a
very proud moment for you. And I've got to acknowledge
the other finalist, Francis Beatson, a Canterbury farmer, passionate advocate
for mental health and well being in rural communities. And
Lara Sutton. No doubt you know Lara because she's a
Waycado farmer as well lawyer and strategy and commercial lawyer

(02:37):
and the strategy and commercial partner ships manager at derrien Zen.
That is a long title, so tough field.

Speaker 3 (02:46):
Oh but doesn't it just highlight the strength of our industry,
Like we've got women who are doing amazing things at space,
like France is very heavily involved in caring for communities
and that's sort of social wellbeing and for Lara about
strategic reallyships and having leadership in that space. So it
just highlights the diversity of how women are impact in
our dairy industry. It's pretty wewto, isn't it now?

Speaker 1 (03:07):
You realize Joe that almost in fact, without exception, I
think everyone is one the dairy Woman of the Year
has gone on to greater things in their life. So
no pressure, no.

Speaker 3 (03:19):
Pressure, Jamie. We'll hopefully be able to tell that story
later on. In life and see what that's letting.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
Me to I'm sure. Well, Rowena, my off side to
here at the Country sat and on the judging panel
and she said you were excellent and you're won over
the panel. So there you go. Well done. Now, as
a part of your prize, you'll receive a scholarship to
be part of the Calogg Rural Leadership Program. The scholarship
covers the program fee, travel and accommodation, mentoring, and access

(03:50):
to Dairy Women's Network and Fonterra platforms to share research.
What are you going to do with yours?

Speaker 3 (03:57):
I haven't actually decided on the top of it, Jamie,
but no doubt that'll be about how we support those
pathways and ensure that we get the brightest and the
best people into our industry. So there'll probably be something
along that space. I'm really excited about being a part
of that. I think it's really important we always continue
to grow and develop our skills and this is a

(04:17):
wonderful opportunity provided by Frontier and Dary Orbitt look for
me to carry on doing that. So yeah, I look
forward to sharing what my topic of choice is going
to be.

Speaker 1 (04:26):
Well, that'd be good. Hey, just to finish on We
got up. Next, we're going to talk to doctor Jackwell
and Roweth, very well known not only in daring circles
but on all farming circles. I think she was. Was
she involved at a debate last night and at the
gala dinner?

Speaker 3 (04:40):
Oh yeah. They did an absolutely wonderful job on the
debate and Jacqueline was the sleeper start there as well,
So no doubt you'll be able to fill you on
all the details of it. But it was highly entertaining
and somewhat informative, and some things might have been factual.
I'm not sure about about it, but it was definitely
very instanly.

Speaker 1 (05:00):
Good on you, Joe Sheard, and congratulations on being the
twenty twenty five Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Air. Congratulations
also to Francis Beetson and Laura Lara. Should I say,
Sutton your your fellow finalists go well, lovely

Speaker 3 (05:13):
To chat awesome, Thank you very much, Jamie