May 24, 2022 • 31 mins
Today we are speaking to Becks Smith, who is based in Ranfurly with her husband and children. Becks is an extremely busy woman, working as a vet, running a social enterprise, farming on a 700ha Sheep, Beef and Deer property, and raising children.
Becks is the founder of the Whole Story NZ, a Social Enterprise using the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for inspiring, facilitiating and articulating conscious, holistic sustainability on farms.
We talk to Becks about the Whole Story, her passions, and her experience being a Zanda McDonald Award Finalist (and her love of a bit of drum and bass).
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www.ruralwomennz.nz
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:08):
Welcome to the Black Keels and Tractor Wheels podcast, where
we are sharing stories from a range.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Of women from around New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
For nearly a century, Rural Women New Zealand has been
dedicated to strengthening and supporting women and children to become
empowered members of their communities.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
We hope that by hearing these stories from inspiring women
all around the country, you'll feel inspired yourself.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
We're your hosts, Emma Higgins and Clan Williamson and would
love for you to join and subscribe to our podcast
so you don't miss our rural stories.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
By the way, this podcast is supported by f CO
keep We to the Bone since nineteen oh four and
working with their farming families to supply the world with
top quality beef and lamb since then.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
So Becks, you are now very firmly in the rural life,
obviously in the most beautiful part I think for one
of the most beautiful.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
Parts of the South Island.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Take us back a little bit, so what has your
life been like before rural adventures. Have you always lived
in the country or do you have more of a
bit of an urban upbringing.
Speaker 6 (01:12):
So I was born in Hamilton. Surprisingly to most and
I actually out started primary school. In my early years
were in Cambridge, in a sort of rural suburb in
Leamington and Cambridge. Yeah, and then actually at the age
of six went over to Papua New Guinea, so my
(01:34):
dad and my stepmom got jobs over there, and I
spent the next five years of my life in Papua
New Guinea, which was an incredible experience, and then moved
back to New Zealand and to Dunedin, so really urban
secondary schooling. I had a passion for farming from my
friend who was at boarding school at the same school
(01:57):
I was a day girl at, and that ended up
in sort of lighting a passion for agriculture and lighting
a passion for veterinary medicine. So the two combined, and
now I live rurally and ran fairly.
Speaker 5 (02:09):
Oh my goodness. Okay, so much to unpack.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
And that very tidy paragraph. Who just gave us number one?
Papa New Guinea?
Speaker 5 (02:18):
What what is that?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Like?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
I have?
Speaker 4 (02:20):
I've heard mixed comments about Papua New Guinea and I'm
dying to hear from your perspective of someone who's lived there.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Can you just give us a little bit of an
insight on what it was like.
Speaker 6 (02:30):
Yeah, so it was amazing from my perspective. But obviously
I lived there from the age of six till eleven,
so like probably really blinkers on like brilliant childhood.
Speaker 7 (02:42):
You know.
Speaker 6 (02:43):
I lived in a compound, so had so many friends
running around after school. We were safe, we had you know,
there were just always people around. We had guards at
the front gate, so we like we lived in a
amazing safe bubble and just had friends on tap twenty
four to seven, which was amazing.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
We had a yacht and.
Speaker 6 (03:02):
So we went off sailing to different islands on the weekends,
and so I was just a fish. I used to
just spend all of my time in the ocean and outdoors.
So it was a beautiful, beautiful upbringing for a six
to eleven year old kid.
Speaker 8 (03:20):
We were there before the coup.
Speaker 6 (03:22):
One of the coups, and so it was Yeah, it
was definitely an amazing childhood.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Yeah, I really do.
Speaker 8 (03:29):
It's one thing I'd say.
Speaker 6 (03:30):
To people is if you're thinking of traveling like overseas
with the young children, then do it, because it was
It was an incredible experience for me and I got
to see a whole different world and I think now
I have such a different appreciation and respect for different
ways of life because of experiencing that as a child.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean, borders are open. See later, guys, you've
just sold it to me. I'm out of here, Okay.
Speaker 7 (03:56):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
That's so cool, and it sounds like you just you
just had most idyllic experience.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
That brings me to my second question.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
You talk very quickly about going to university and then
suddenly ending up in rural life. I'm sure here was
a man along the way. Based on what I've read
about you, tell us a little bit about how you
met your other huf.
Speaker 6 (04:15):
Yeah, so Jason and I actually met.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
So.
Speaker 6 (04:18):
I had been working here in Ranfurly for oh, I
think six months before I met Jason, and we met
at friends twenty first and yeah, so I was already
actually the local vet in town and he had been
away at Lincoln and then came home and yeah, we
met at twenty first in town of a mutual friend,
(04:38):
and yeah, the rest is history.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
I love how many of these rural romances either start
at the pub at someone's twenty first or at some
rural kind of like knees up event.
Speaker 7 (04:49):
Like it's so awesome.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
So I'm really interested, as a Pasha refers to myself
a failed vet student because I didn't quite get there.
I'm really interested how you how you decided that you
wanted to be a vet, and then what your experience
of becoming a vet was. And because I'm just interested here,
I think we'll have some listeners that would love to
(05:11):
get into that. You know, that line of work, being
super passionate about farm animals and about giving back and
about you know, moving farms forward.
Speaker 7 (05:18):
So how did you get into it.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
In terms of like what was the experience of uni
like maybe the drinking partying I'm sure was also fun.
Speaker 7 (05:28):
And then how did you get.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Into where your specialty is and what sort of things
do you love the most about being a vet these days?
Speaker 6 (05:34):
My so cavet here is my uncle is a vet.
So quite often you find vets have family members who
are vets. It seems to be a real, real family thing.
So my uncle is a vet. He started off his
career as a mixed practice vet, so doing larger animals
and small animals, but then he ended up specializing in
small animals. I had spent quite a bit of time
(05:56):
with him throughout my teenage years helping out in the
clinic that he owned and got.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
A bit of experience there.
Speaker 6 (06:03):
And it's interesting though, like my parents say, they don't
remember a time where I didn't want to be a VET.
I don't remember a deciding moment. It's just something I
always had wanted to be. So it was kind of
a given that that's what I would be doing when
I left school, and so off I went up to
Palmston North and I loved it up there. But it
was hard, right, the course is hard. But once again,
(06:25):
I am a self professed geek, so and my family
will openly admit that I was the geek in the family.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Like I love learning and I really.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
Get a thrill out of learning something new and completing something.
In fact, still unaddicted to learning, I can't give up
doing different courses, learning different things. So UNI was a
really natural.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Place for me.
Speaker 6 (06:47):
I thrived in that environment of being given that challenge.
And so yeah, I mean it's a really well structured
course and you know, it was a knuckle down, work
hard and achieve which was totally you.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Know at my alley.
Speaker 7 (07:01):
Yeah, I love that. That's awesome.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I enjoy the fact that, yeah, your parents obviously have
a different view to you around some of the things
that you came out with with what you.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Wanted to be when you were younger. We've heard that
from a few other people as well.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
But I just want to, I guess, fast forward to
a little bit and talk about where you are now
in the space, because obviously being a successful VET is
one aspect or one of the many hats that you
wear a monk's also being a mum to three three
girls as well. But can you tell us a little
bit about the whole story, because that seems like it's
got quite an interesting angle also where the type of
(07:37):
structure it is, So maybe for our listeners, could you
just get some bit of a rundown on what it is.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Definitely, so the whole story was kind of curated from
years and years of different musings and thoughts going on.
But where it really came to fruition was do you know,
like during lockdown, like some people baked bread. Yeah, I
set up a social enterprise. Like that was my claim
to fame, is like I made bread. I set up
a social enterprise because you know, I wasn't busy enough.
Speaker 8 (08:04):
And so yeah, what it really was is.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
So the social enterprise that I founded is the whole story,
and the whole story is about inspiring, facilitating and articulating
sustainability and agriculture. So how that came about is I
was faced with a challenge as a farmer. So we've
got a seven hundred hear sheep, beef and deer farm
here in ram fairly, and the challenge that I was
(08:28):
seeing us face as a farming family was that sustainability
is really complex and we're out working all day every
day on the farm getting things done. But we're meant
to be putting in new initiatives and sustainability and when
were we going to find the time to research that
to know what the right answers were to know whether
(08:49):
we could do these different things. And I looked at
a skill set that I had, which was that I
could like, I'm really passionate about connecting dots, and so
I think are so amazingly wonderful at being able to
get hard work done, and they're so passionate about leaving
their land in a good place and having pride over
(09:10):
the work they do and leaving legacy behind. And I
think it was connecting that the fact that you know
farmers are wanting to be more sustainable and they're able
to do the work. It's connecting the dots in between
of knowing exactly how and what to do. And I
found that that was my strength, as I am a
connector of the dots, and I could do something to
help here, to help my peers actually make that a
(09:32):
bit easier. And the other challenge I guess I was
facing that I wanted to confront with the whole story
was that sustainability was becoming really synonymous with environment and
it left out the considerations of people and our communities
and our animals and.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Our business success.
Speaker 6 (09:50):
So I really wanted it to be a more holistic
viewpoint and I really just want people to get excited
about sustainability like that is my passion.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I agree entirely with what you've said around just yeah,
there's so much to take in and going back to
your opening statements, so much to take in, so much
to learn. But if you're out there on the tools
where you're going to find the time to kind of
pull it all together, we'll connect the dots. As you say,
I'm intrigued about the social enterprise aspect. Can you tell
us can we dig into that a little bit more
(10:21):
because there'll be some listeners out there who might not
know what it is, what that concept is, and I
think it's a really interesting one to apply, particularly to
this topic.
Speaker 6 (10:31):
Yeah, so I was really passionate about building a purpose
led business. So for so long, kind of working and
learning around corporate business models, I just decided that I
wanted something that was actually designed to be done with
purpose and to be better for our people, to be
(10:51):
better for our planet, and to.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Be do you know, just that little bit.
Speaker 6 (10:55):
More heart and soul in the business. And so it
is a purpose lead business. But also there's more to
the complexities of a social enterprise. It's that we're not
a not for profit. We are about making profit, but
the profit gets like reinvested into our purpose. So it's
about using the profit to actually have positive impact. So yeah,
(11:16):
it's kind of it's a very different business model. It
takes some people, we want to get their heads around,
but it's really reinvesting that.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
Profit into purpose.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I think that that's the future of business. I think
everybody is going to have to start answering questions around
how they are not only giving back. And you know,
we've talked a lot on this podcast in the past
about greenwashing and sort of just going, oh, yeah, we're
like planting trees or we're buying up tracts of land
and we're you know, offsetting our carbon and it's like, yeah,
(11:44):
that's cool. But are you giving back to your community?
And I think that's something that sets you apart, which
is really really awesome. So you're obviously a leader. You
wouldn't be setting up a business that's now starting to
thrive without doing that. And I've heard that you're also
involved in some governance roles and you have had a
little bit of a leadership journey, So would you tell
(12:07):
us a little bit about that, tell us about some
of the roles that you've held, and I think some
of the courses that you've done in the journey that
you've had in that space for our listeners.
Speaker 6 (12:15):
Yeah, I guess I'm trying to think where my leadership
journey first began. I think it's kind of one of
those things that quite often you can't pinpoint the moment
you decided to I think everyone's a leader in their
own right, aren't they.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
It's just the sphere in which you lead.
Speaker 8 (12:29):
But I guess I've probably been.
Speaker 6 (12:31):
Combining that love of learning and a natural affinity for
leadership has meant that I have actually progressed and carved
out that pathway in my career. In life, I've done
some courses through my Vetnory career that were based around leadership,
and so it was recognized by actually my boss was
back maybe twenty and thirteen. I was recognized to go
(12:55):
on a leadership course that really opened my eyes to
communication styles, to values and that sort of internal work
that had to be done to actually be a good leader.
And from there it's really blossomed into being a whole
lot of different courses I've done, but a really pivotal
(13:16):
range of courses I've done have been the ones through
the Ager Women's Development Trust. So I've now done Understanding
of Farming Business, It's all about You, and Escalator. Escalator
was a complete game changer for me in the leadership space.
I say it changed my script, both my internal script
(13:36):
and my external script, like it really really has changed
my life and it's set me out with a really
really strong knowledge of who I am as a person
and how I want to lead and what my purpose is.
And from there it's really just been stepping stones to
make bigger and better things happen, because that really set
(13:58):
that foundation. I think some of the roles that I've had,
so I started off just having different committee roles. So
from the New Zealand Alpine Club, I was on the
Otago Section committee at sixteen, I think it was the
secretary for that club. I've had different roles within New
Zealand Young Farmers, our local club, and also the contest committee.
(14:23):
I've had roles within you know, whenever you have young kids,
you're always wrote into the plunket committees. So I've had
roles within the local plunket committee. I've had a board
observer role from a veterinary organization. And yeah, recently, although
that time is flying, I got appointed as independent director
for quorm Sense, So yeah, I really love the governan's
(14:46):
work I do, and I hope to grow in that space.
I think it's such an amazing opportunity to be able
to impact and influence the sector that you're working in from.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
A really high level.
Speaker 6 (14:57):
And yeah, I'm really really passionate about growing that that
side of my career.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
We're just going to take a short break so you
can hear a word from our sponsors.
Speaker 9 (15:09):
AFCO has been part of the fabric of rural New
Zealand since nineteen oh four, partnering with livestock farmers across
New Zealand, supplying quality beef and lamb to markets across
the world. This naturally means a FCO works closely with
individual farming families and wider rural communities, providing the support
where it's needed, nurturing the grassroots of New Zealand's farming
(15:31):
success story. That's AFCO kee me to the bone since
nineteen oh four.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Can you and this sort of flows onto the conversation
or the topic that we're just covered, but can you
tell us a little bit about the Zander Award, because
I know that you were a recent finalist in one
of the intakes just a couple of years ago.
Speaker 5 (15:51):
Talk us through a.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
Little bit about what that award is and the journey
that it takes you on as well. Because we've actually
tooked an and had contact with a few people outside
of this podcast where the Zander Award process and everyone
who does that seems to be a leader in their
own right. But I know that there'll be some that
are listening to this podcast and we'll be considering this
(16:15):
perhaps as well for the next year's entries.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
Yeah, the Xander McDonald Award was I was so humbled
to be a finalist. It was in last year, twenty
twenty one, Yes, and it was for me it was
a really pivotal moment because it was the first time
that I was truly recognized for my value set, my
story and the life i'd created. You know, quite often
(16:39):
people talk about your success and your career before kids,
and then it's kind of like then it kind of
takes a break for a while, and then you might
get back into it.
Speaker 7 (16:48):
Later in life.
Speaker 6 (16:49):
But Xander came at a time where we had the
two girls at that stage and I had just founded
the whole story, and in my application it was really me.
It's the first time I presented truly my set of values,
my idea is, my story, and my purpose in an
application and I was recognized for the value that people
saw in that. So that for me was really humbling,
(17:12):
And yeah, it was a really proud moment. I'm really
really grateful for that. It's an amazing process. So the
process itself, so Xander McDonald Award is an award for
it's innovative leaders in the Australasian agricultural sectors so and
young leaders.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
I was like, that's another thing.
Speaker 6 (17:30):
I was like really humbled I was included in the
young group, Like yeah, I was like, that was an
amazing moment. But it's it's such an incredible group of people.
And the biggest part about being a finalist is it's
not like you're named as a finalist and then all
of a sudden, there's an awards dinner and then someone's
announced it's you're names a finalist, and you're welcomed into
(17:50):
a family. And as a finalist, you're part of that family,
and so you automatically gain a network of amazing mentors
and you know, connections that you can lean on and
friends like these people have genuinely become friends, and it's
a family of people who will you're always a part
(18:11):
of And it doesn't matter actually whether you win or
you're you know, you're not successful in winning the award,
just being a finalist, you're invited and welcomed into that
family equally. And so there's also amazing like professional development
opportunities through just being a finalist. So they gave us
media training and they gave that we had like day
(18:32):
outings to different industries and yeah, just had a really
good time networking and just it's such an incredible experience. Like,
if you're thinking of applying, it was actually a friend
of mine who suggested that I apply. I went, oh, shikes,
do you know, like not me? And they really really
forced me to apply, And do you know I can't
(18:52):
thank them highly enough because it was an incredible experience.
So if someone is thinking of applying, or even if
you see the criteria and you think of someone else,
then tap them all the shoulder and say, hey, apply for.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
This because it's so worth it.
Speaker 6 (19:07):
It is such an incredible family to be a part of,
and such an amazing experience.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
That is the best description of a leadership program that
I've heard in a long time. They will be sitting
out there going can we take that exert and put
it on all our advertising? It's beautiful. So I'm really
curious about something because I feel like you're going to
have a really cool opinion on this. So I've been
pondering while you've been speaking about the challenges that we're
(19:36):
facing in the rural sector at the moment, and I
think you have a really good understanding of what that
means from a community perspective, from an environmental perspective, probably
also employment wise because you're involved, you know, with as
a professional off farm as well. What are your thoughts
on how we can successfully continue wonderful way of life
(19:58):
in farming and New zeal Because I think there are
things that have to change, and that's obvious, and I
think most people are on board with those changes, but
there are some really really big challenges and yeah, I
think I just love your thoughts on what that means
for us.
Speaker 7 (20:15):
Probably is that that new generation you know.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Coming into perhaps being new into farming or coming into farming,
how are we going to be successful?
Speaker 6 (20:24):
That we have to be really really firm and what
our values are and what's important to us. And I
think once you know your core values, then you can
approach anything with a bit more of an open mind.
And I think you're right. Change is inevitable, right, And
the things that served us yesterday aren't going to be
the things that serve us tomorrow. And there are going
(20:45):
to be things that have to change.
Speaker 8 (20:48):
But changes an't always.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
A bad thing.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
And maybe if we looked at things with an open mind,
and if we approached the future with a bit more
hope and optimism around our value set and what's.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Really important to me? Do you know what are the things.
Speaker 6 (21:02):
That I'm non negotiable about, and what are the other
things that maybe aren't so important that I'm worrying about
that I don't need to do, you know, like maybe
we could just think that, you know, the future is
going to be bright and we actually create that. So
if we have a bit more of an open mind,
a bit more blue sky thinking, and approach things with
hope and optimism, then.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I don't think the challenges look nearly so scary. They
just they're just changes.
Speaker 5 (21:29):
There are opportunities, just changes.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
I like that. How do you manage to fit everything in?
So I'm genuinely asking here because you have so many
hats that you wear, whether it's you know, the mum roll,
the vet role, the whole foods role, the governance roles.
At what point do you kind of take a step
back and think, Wow, you know, this is the certain
(21:54):
direction that I'm going and I'm comfortable with this level
of busyness. What are your mechanisms I guess for juggling
all of the things all the time, because yeah, you're
covering so many different elements here. Yeah, I'd like some
advice actually personally, asking for a friends, how do you
do it all?
Speaker 8 (22:14):
Day care?
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Day care?
Speaker 8 (22:17):
And be comfortable with dropping the ball?
Speaker 6 (22:20):
Right, Like I do not achieve perfection, and so I
think you have to be and being really really compassionate
with yourself on the days you do drop the balls
and it's okay, Like you know, there's obviously some really
important things like keeping the kids alive at the end
of the day, like you know, everyone, making it safe
(22:41):
home and into bed at night is really important, but
there are some things that are so much less important.
And just be kind to yourself, like if you don't
achieve something, or if you let someone down, be humble,
say sorry, move on. You know, we are all human.
We can't achieve perfettion. You just have to be happy
(23:01):
with what you do manage to achieve in a day.
And I dropped so many balls all the time.
Speaker 8 (23:07):
Oh and have a cleaner. Yeah, outsource it takes a village.
Speaker 7 (23:13):
It does, it does.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
I totally agree with you on that one, and I
think you know done is better than perfect.
Speaker 7 (23:20):
And also you have to look at those balls.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
And say which one can I really not drop because
it's a glass one and which one you know it
will probably bounce if I drop it, And I think
that's a really important distinction to make as well. So
one thing I'm always curious about and it does relate
a little bit to this last question.
Speaker 7 (23:41):
But when you do have a lot of hats and
you do have a really.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
Busy life, I think it's just so important to get
some time out for yourself to get that I suppose
me time or the cut reefilling moments. So I'm really
interested as to what that looks like for beck Smith once.
Speaker 8 (23:59):
Again, daycare.
Speaker 6 (24:03):
No, I was yeah thinking about this and it's really
about making it a priority and scheduling. If I need
time out, it goes on the calendar. And there are
daily things that go into my daily habits and structure
that are so important to keep me, you know, my capsule,
to get me look after, to keep me healthy, because
(24:24):
I think you're right, I do have a lot of
different hats and to be maintaining that level of momentum
all the time requires like self.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
Care plus plus plus. Like I am the.
Speaker 6 (24:34):
Person that does daily yoga, I am the person who
does daily meditation and daily gratitude journal, and because if
I didn't, I couldn't keep running at the high level
that I am. So I just know that I have
to be almost excessive in the self care department, Like
I know that there shouldn't be such a thing as excessive,
but I almost overpush it so that I can be
(24:57):
able to maintain that high level of momentum. But I
think it's just really important knowing what you need to
fill your cap and yeah, scheduling it in.
Speaker 8 (25:06):
You know, it's you would schedule in.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
A coffee with a friend or a meeting for work,
So you need to schedule in that coffee with yourself
or that self care meeting for you.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (25:16):
Nice.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
I read something about that recently.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
It was like, think of yourself as a CEO and
then book your own CEO meetings because you'd never cancel
on a CEO.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
And I was like, damn, it's deep.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
I like it. The question just around the rural life.
So tell us a little bit about ran fairly now
that you've been embedded into the community, what is really.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
Great about it?
Speaker 4 (25:36):
What do you love about rural life and what perhaps.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
One has been a bit of a culture shock as well.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
I mean, you've been here for you've been part of
the rural fabric now for a really long time.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
But if you can cash your mind back with.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
Any cultural differences or anythings that really stuck out to
you when you first moved to Randfirin.
Speaker 6 (25:55):
Well, start with what I really love about rural life.
So I love the fact that I have such so
much wide open space I am. I love having space,
and for me, it's really important to go out and
just be able to see so much blue sky and
breathe fresh air, and that's really really important to me.
(26:15):
It fills my soul, so having that, Like where we live,
we have amazing big open spaces and skies, so that's like,
I love that and I'm really grateful for that. I
think I've got a lot of friends in cities and
urban environments and they just can't even comprehend the degree.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Of space we have.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
And I find I feel quite claustrophobic now and I'm
in a city for a long period of time because
I really.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Miss that space.
Speaker 6 (26:42):
With regards to rural communities, what I love is that
the people. Gosh, it's amazing. You walk down the street
and you know everyone and you can talk to everyone,
and it's just so friendly, and it's like you have
an extension to your family.
Speaker 10 (26:55):
And when you need people there there and when you
want to see with people there there, and I just
don't think you get that all the time in some
of our urban environments.
Speaker 6 (27:05):
So I am really really grateful for that too, as
from a community perspective, that we just have an extension
to our family, and my kids have an extension to
their family, like the community is there for our whole family.
Culture shocks differences. Moving here, it was really natural for me.
It was a really natural fit. I'm trying to think
(27:25):
of things that I miss. Actually I'm like a real
I'm really passionate about drum and based music, and there's
not that many places to go out and listen to
drum and based m. Really, Like I was going to say,
a friend and I were just discussing that today and
that's probably a fun fact for everybody.
Speaker 4 (27:40):
She is She's just arrived Big Smith for the real
Big Smith.
Speaker 5 (27:45):
Please don't up.
Speaker 6 (27:46):
I love it was that was probably like I had
to travel so far for different gigs, so that when
I first started.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Was just it was a bit more traveling.
Speaker 6 (27:57):
But yeah, that was probably one of the biggest things
I missed actually and the only thing, like everything else
I need is here.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
That is pretty beautiful. I have to say I agree
with the wide open space. I think probably most people
in the rural space do.
Speaker 7 (28:10):
But yeah, it's.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Stunning, like I've got all of the white cattle mountains.
So you'll know because you grew up in Cambridge Mangatapini
and Keko Woker and put on air from my house
and it's pretty cool. Our last Christian for you today,
I'm really curious about because you have got such a
lot going on in your life and there's a lot
of different facets as well, because you've got obviously the
(28:35):
whole story and being a vet, working on farm, your children, family.
Question is what are you hoping to achieve over the
next twelve months and what are some of those things
that you think about when you're setting those goals, because
I feel like you must be quite gold driven, so
one of those things, and how do you do that?
Speaker 7 (28:55):
How do you set those goals and what might they
look like this year?
Speaker 6 (28:58):
You'd be surprised goals are I'm not very good at
setting smart goals. It is like a confession. This is
confessions of Becksmith, right, here. I'm not very good at
setting smart goals. My goals have much more of a
feeling to them, or they are a lot softer. But
my goal for the next twelve months I'm very clear on,
(29:20):
and it is to create flow in each of those
facets you speak of, to be able to be where
my feet are at it and be present in the moment,
so not to be worried about what's going.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
On with the whole story while I'm.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
With the kids, and not to be worried about the kids,
just knowing they're under control while I'm busy out on
the farm or at.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Work in the BET practice.
Speaker 6 (29:42):
So it's really about finding that flow and that real
comfort that everything is as it should be and that
I can just be present at the moment. That's all
I want for the next twelve months.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
I think that is an awesome goal to have and
one that I can relate to completely. Just shutting off
the brain, shutting off one part of the brain while
you know you're you're elsewhere doing something else, and yeah,
just wanting to be in the moment.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
So I love it.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Thank you so much for your time, Beck You are
such an inspiration to so many of us and you've
got so many things on the go that you're so
involved with the community, and you're giving back in so
many different ways, and we have just been absolutely thrilled
that you could take the time to talk to us.
So thank you so much, and we can't wait to
see where you're going to be in the next twelve months.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Rural Women in New Zealand is a community of like
minded women who are doing amazing things in their respective
regions in communities.
Speaker 4 (30:40):
This podcast celebrates the achievements, successes and stories of our
Rural Women, which are also the foundations for our organization's
rich history.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
We want you to be part of our future story,
so please join us by clicking on the link in
the show notes and we look forward to welcoming you
into the fold
Speaker 4 (31:00):
And s
Welcome to the Black Keels and Tractor Wheels podcast, where
we are sharing stories from a range.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Of women from around New Zealand.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
For nearly a century, Rural Women New Zealand has been
dedicated to strengthening and supporting women and children to become
empowered members of their communities.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
We hope that by hearing these stories from inspiring women
all around the country, you'll feel inspired yourself.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
We're your hosts, Emma Higgins and Clan Williamson and would
love for you to join and subscribe to our podcast
so you don't miss our rural stories.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
By the way, this podcast is supported by f CO
keep We to the Bone since nineteen oh four and
working with their farming families to supply the world with
top quality beef and lamb since then.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
So Becks, you are now very firmly in the rural life,
obviously in the most beautiful part I think for one
of the most beautiful.
Speaker 5 (00:57):
Parts of the South Island.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Take us back a little bit, so what has your
life been like before rural adventures. Have you always lived
in the country or do you have more of a
bit of an urban upbringing.
Speaker 6 (01:12):
So I was born in Hamilton. Surprisingly to most and
I actually out started primary school. In my early years
were in Cambridge, in a sort of rural suburb in
Leamington and Cambridge. Yeah, and then actually at the age
of six went over to Papua New Guinea, so my
(01:34):
dad and my stepmom got jobs over there, and I
spent the next five years of my life in Papua
New Guinea, which was an incredible experience, and then moved
back to New Zealand and to Dunedin, so really urban
secondary schooling. I had a passion for farming from my
friend who was at boarding school at the same school
(01:57):
I was a day girl at, and that ended up
in sort of lighting a passion for agriculture and lighting
a passion for veterinary medicine. So the two combined, and
now I live rurally and ran fairly.
Speaker 5 (02:09):
Oh my goodness. Okay, so much to unpack.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
And that very tidy paragraph. Who just gave us number one?
Papa New Guinea?
Speaker 5 (02:18):
What what is that?
Speaker 2 (02:19):
Like?
Speaker 3 (02:20):
I have?
Speaker 4 (02:20):
I've heard mixed comments about Papua New Guinea and I'm
dying to hear from your perspective of someone who's lived there.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Can you just give us a little bit of an
insight on what it was like.
Speaker 6 (02:30):
Yeah, so it was amazing from my perspective. But obviously
I lived there from the age of six till eleven,
so like probably really blinkers on like brilliant childhood.
Speaker 7 (02:42):
You know.
Speaker 6 (02:43):
I lived in a compound, so had so many friends
running around after school. We were safe, we had you know,
there were just always people around. We had guards at
the front gate, so we like we lived in a
amazing safe bubble and just had friends on tap twenty
four to seven, which was amazing.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
We had a yacht and.
Speaker 6 (03:02):
So we went off sailing to different islands on the weekends,
and so I was just a fish. I used to
just spend all of my time in the ocean and outdoors.
So it was a beautiful, beautiful upbringing for a six
to eleven year old kid.
Speaker 8 (03:20):
We were there before the coup.
Speaker 6 (03:22):
One of the coups, and so it was Yeah, it
was definitely an amazing childhood.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Yeah, I really do.
Speaker 8 (03:29):
It's one thing I'd say.
Speaker 6 (03:30):
To people is if you're thinking of traveling like overseas
with the young children, then do it, because it was
It was an incredible experience for me and I got
to see a whole different world and I think now
I have such a different appreciation and respect for different
ways of life because of experiencing that as a child.
Speaker 5 (03:47):
Yeah, I mean, borders are open. See later, guys, you've
just sold it to me. I'm out of here, Okay.
Speaker 7 (03:56):
I love that.
Speaker 4 (03:56):
That's so cool, and it sounds like you just you
just had most idyllic experience.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
That brings me to my second question.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
You talk very quickly about going to university and then
suddenly ending up in rural life. I'm sure here was
a man along the way. Based on what I've read
about you, tell us a little bit about how you
met your other huf.
Speaker 6 (04:15):
Yeah, so Jason and I actually met.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
So.
Speaker 6 (04:18):
I had been working here in Ranfurly for oh, I
think six months before I met Jason, and we met
at friends twenty first and yeah, so I was already
actually the local vet in town and he had been
away at Lincoln and then came home and yeah, we
met at twenty first in town of a mutual friend,
(04:38):
and yeah, the rest is history.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
I love how many of these rural romances either start
at the pub at someone's twenty first or at some
rural kind of like knees up event.
Speaker 7 (04:49):
Like it's so awesome.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
So I'm really interested, as a Pasha refers to myself
a failed vet student because I didn't quite get there.
I'm really interested how you how you decided that you
wanted to be a vet, and then what your experience
of becoming a vet was. And because I'm just interested here,
I think we'll have some listeners that would love to
(05:11):
get into that. You know, that line of work, being
super passionate about farm animals and about giving back and
about you know, moving farms forward.
Speaker 7 (05:18):
So how did you get into it.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
In terms of like what was the experience of uni
like maybe the drinking partying I'm sure was also fun.
Speaker 7 (05:28):
And then how did you get.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Into where your specialty is and what sort of things
do you love the most about being a vet these days?
Speaker 6 (05:34):
My so cavet here is my uncle is a vet.
So quite often you find vets have family members who
are vets. It seems to be a real, real family thing.
So my uncle is a vet. He started off his
career as a mixed practice vet, so doing larger animals
and small animals, but then he ended up specializing in
small animals. I had spent quite a bit of time
(05:56):
with him throughout my teenage years helping out in the
clinic that he owned and got.
Speaker 2 (06:01):
A bit of experience there.
Speaker 6 (06:03):
And it's interesting though, like my parents say, they don't
remember a time where I didn't want to be a VET.
I don't remember a deciding moment. It's just something I
always had wanted to be. So it was kind of
a given that that's what I would be doing when
I left school, and so off I went up to
Palmston North and I loved it up there. But it
was hard, right, the course is hard. But once again,
(06:25):
I am a self professed geek, so and my family
will openly admit that I was the geek in the family.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Like I love learning and I really.
Speaker 6 (06:33):
Get a thrill out of learning something new and completing something.
In fact, still unaddicted to learning, I can't give up
doing different courses, learning different things. So UNI was a
really natural.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
Place for me.
Speaker 6 (06:47):
I thrived in that environment of being given that challenge.
And so yeah, I mean it's a really well structured
course and you know, it was a knuckle down, work
hard and achieve which was totally you.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Know at my alley.
Speaker 7 (07:01):
Yeah, I love that. That's awesome.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
I enjoy the fact that, yeah, your parents obviously have
a different view to you around some of the things
that you came out with with what you.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Wanted to be when you were younger. We've heard that
from a few other people as well.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
But I just want to, I guess, fast forward to
a little bit and talk about where you are now
in the space, because obviously being a successful VET is
one aspect or one of the many hats that you
wear a monk's also being a mum to three three
girls as well. But can you tell us a little
bit about the whole story, because that seems like it's
got quite an interesting angle also where the type of
(07:37):
structure it is, So maybe for our listeners, could you
just get some bit of a rundown on what it is.
Speaker 6 (07:42):
Definitely, so the whole story was kind of curated from
years and years of different musings and thoughts going on.
But where it really came to fruition was do you know,
like during lockdown, like some people baked bread. Yeah, I
set up a social enterprise. Like that was my claim
to fame, is like I made bread. I set up
a social enterprise because you know, I wasn't busy enough.
Speaker 8 (08:04):
And so yeah, what it really was is.
Speaker 6 (08:07):
So the social enterprise that I founded is the whole story,
and the whole story is about inspiring, facilitating and articulating
sustainability and agriculture. So how that came about is I
was faced with a challenge as a farmer. So we've
got a seven hundred hear sheep, beef and deer farm
here in ram fairly, and the challenge that I was
(08:28):
seeing us face as a farming family was that sustainability
is really complex and we're out working all day every
day on the farm getting things done. But we're meant
to be putting in new initiatives and sustainability and when
were we going to find the time to research that
to know what the right answers were to know whether
(08:49):
we could do these different things. And I looked at
a skill set that I had, which was that I
could like, I'm really passionate about connecting dots, and so
I think are so amazingly wonderful at being able to
get hard work done, and they're so passionate about leaving
their land in a good place and having pride over
(09:10):
the work they do and leaving legacy behind. And I
think it was connecting that the fact that you know
farmers are wanting to be more sustainable and they're able
to do the work. It's connecting the dots in between
of knowing exactly how and what to do. And I
found that that was my strength, as I am a
connector of the dots, and I could do something to
help here, to help my peers actually make that a
(09:32):
bit easier. And the other challenge I guess I was
facing that I wanted to confront with the whole story
was that sustainability was becoming really synonymous with environment and
it left out the considerations of people and our communities
and our animals and.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Our business success.
Speaker 6 (09:50):
So I really wanted it to be a more holistic
viewpoint and I really just want people to get excited
about sustainability like that is my passion.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I agree entirely with what you've said around just yeah,
there's so much to take in and going back to
your opening statements, so much to take in, so much
to learn. But if you're out there on the tools
where you're going to find the time to kind of
pull it all together, we'll connect the dots. As you say,
I'm intrigued about the social enterprise aspect. Can you tell
us can we dig into that a little bit more
(10:21):
because there'll be some listeners out there who might not
know what it is, what that concept is, and I
think it's a really interesting one to apply, particularly to
this topic.
Speaker 6 (10:31):
Yeah, so I was really passionate about building a purpose
led business. So for so long, kind of working and
learning around corporate business models, I just decided that I
wanted something that was actually designed to be done with
purpose and to be better for our people, to be
(10:51):
better for our planet, and to.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Be do you know, just that little bit.
Speaker 6 (10:55):
More heart and soul in the business. And so it
is a purpose lead business. But also there's more to
the complexities of a social enterprise. It's that we're not
a not for profit. We are about making profit, but
the profit gets like reinvested into our purpose. So it's
about using the profit to actually have positive impact. So yeah,
(11:16):
it's kind of it's a very different business model. It
takes some people, we want to get their heads around,
but it's really reinvesting that.
Speaker 5 (11:22):
Profit into purpose.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I think that that's the future of business. I think
everybody is going to have to start answering questions around
how they are not only giving back. And you know,
we've talked a lot on this podcast in the past
about greenwashing and sort of just going, oh, yeah, we're
like planting trees or we're buying up tracts of land
and we're you know, offsetting our carbon and it's like, yeah,
(11:44):
that's cool. But are you giving back to your community?
And I think that's something that sets you apart, which
is really really awesome. So you're obviously a leader. You
wouldn't be setting up a business that's now starting to
thrive without doing that. And I've heard that you're also
involved in some governance roles and you have had a
little bit of a leadership journey, So would you tell
(12:07):
us a little bit about that, tell us about some
of the roles that you've held, and I think some
of the courses that you've done in the journey that
you've had in that space for our listeners.
Speaker 6 (12:15):
Yeah, I guess I'm trying to think where my leadership
journey first began. I think it's kind of one of
those things that quite often you can't pinpoint the moment
you decided to I think everyone's a leader in their
own right, aren't they.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
It's just the sphere in which you lead.
Speaker 8 (12:29):
But I guess I've probably been.
Speaker 6 (12:31):
Combining that love of learning and a natural affinity for
leadership has meant that I have actually progressed and carved
out that pathway in my career. In life, I've done
some courses through my Vetnory career that were based around leadership,
and so it was recognized by actually my boss was
back maybe twenty and thirteen. I was recognized to go
(12:55):
on a leadership course that really opened my eyes to
communication styles, to values and that sort of internal work
that had to be done to actually be a good leader.
And from there it's really blossomed into being a whole
lot of different courses I've done, but a really pivotal
(13:16):
range of courses I've done have been the ones through
the Ager Women's Development Trust. So I've now done Understanding
of Farming Business, It's all about You, and Escalator. Escalator
was a complete game changer for me in the leadership space.
I say it changed my script, both my internal script
(13:36):
and my external script, like it really really has changed
my life and it's set me out with a really
really strong knowledge of who I am as a person
and how I want to lead and what my purpose is.
And from there it's really just been stepping stones to
make bigger and better things happen, because that really set
(13:58):
that foundation. I think some of the roles that I've had,
so I started off just having different committee roles. So
from the New Zealand Alpine Club, I was on the
Otago Section committee at sixteen, I think it was the
secretary for that club. I've had different roles within New
Zealand Young Farmers, our local club, and also the contest committee.
(14:23):
I've had roles within you know, whenever you have young kids,
you're always wrote into the plunket committees. So I've had
roles within the local plunket committee. I've had a board
observer role from a veterinary organization. And yeah, recently, although
that time is flying, I got appointed as independent director
for quorm Sense, So yeah, I really love the governan's
(14:46):
work I do, and I hope to grow in that space.
I think it's such an amazing opportunity to be able
to impact and influence the sector that you're working in from.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
A really high level.
Speaker 6 (14:57):
And yeah, I'm really really passionate about growing that that
side of my career.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
We're just going to take a short break so you
can hear a word from our sponsors.
Speaker 9 (15:09):
AFCO has been part of the fabric of rural New
Zealand since nineteen oh four, partnering with livestock farmers across
New Zealand, supplying quality beef and lamb to markets across
the world. This naturally means a FCO works closely with
individual farming families and wider rural communities, providing the support
where it's needed, nurturing the grassroots of New Zealand's farming
(15:31):
success story. That's AFCO kee me to the bone since
nineteen oh four.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Can you and this sort of flows onto the conversation
or the topic that we're just covered, but can you
tell us a little bit about the Zander Award, because
I know that you were a recent finalist in one
of the intakes just a couple of years ago.
Speaker 5 (15:51):
Talk us through a.
Speaker 4 (15:52):
Little bit about what that award is and the journey
that it takes you on as well. Because we've actually
tooked an and had contact with a few people outside
of this podcast where the Zander Award process and everyone
who does that seems to be a leader in their
own right. But I know that there'll be some that
are listening to this podcast and we'll be considering this
(16:15):
perhaps as well for the next year's entries.
Speaker 6 (16:18):
Yeah, the Xander McDonald Award was I was so humbled
to be a finalist. It was in last year, twenty
twenty one, Yes, and it was for me it was
a really pivotal moment because it was the first time
that I was truly recognized for my value set, my
story and the life i'd created. You know, quite often
(16:39):
people talk about your success and your career before kids,
and then it's kind of like then it kind of
takes a break for a while, and then you might
get back into it.
Speaker 7 (16:48):
Later in life.
Speaker 6 (16:49):
But Xander came at a time where we had the
two girls at that stage and I had just founded
the whole story, and in my application it was really me.
It's the first time I presented truly my set of values,
my idea is, my story, and my purpose in an
application and I was recognized for the value that people
saw in that. So that for me was really humbling,
(17:12):
And yeah, it was a really proud moment. I'm really
really grateful for that. It's an amazing process. So the
process itself, so Xander McDonald Award is an award for
it's innovative leaders in the Australasian agricultural sectors so and
young leaders.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
I was like, that's another thing.
Speaker 6 (17:30):
I was like really humbled I was included in the
young group, Like yeah, I was like, that was an
amazing moment. But it's it's such an incredible group of people.
And the biggest part about being a finalist is it's
not like you're named as a finalist and then all
of a sudden, there's an awards dinner and then someone's
announced it's you're names a finalist, and you're welcomed into
(17:50):
a family. And as a finalist, you're part of that family,
and so you automatically gain a network of amazing mentors
and you know, connections that you can lean on and
friends like these people have genuinely become friends, and it's
a family of people who will you're always a part
(18:11):
of And it doesn't matter actually whether you win or
you're you know, you're not successful in winning the award,
just being a finalist, you're invited and welcomed into that
family equally. And so there's also amazing like professional development
opportunities through just being a finalist. So they gave us
media training and they gave that we had like day
(18:32):
outings to different industries and yeah, just had a really
good time networking and just it's such an incredible experience. Like,
if you're thinking of applying, it was actually a friend
of mine who suggested that I apply. I went, oh, shikes,
do you know, like not me? And they really really
forced me to apply, And do you know I can't
(18:52):
thank them highly enough because it was an incredible experience.
So if someone is thinking of applying, or even if
you see the criteria and you think of someone else,
then tap them all the shoulder and say, hey, apply for.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
This because it's so worth it.
Speaker 6 (19:07):
It is such an incredible family to be a part of,
and such an amazing experience.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
That is the best description of a leadership program that
I've heard in a long time. They will be sitting
out there going can we take that exert and put
it on all our advertising? It's beautiful. So I'm really
curious about something because I feel like you're going to
have a really cool opinion on this. So I've been
pondering while you've been speaking about the challenges that we're
(19:36):
facing in the rural sector at the moment, and I
think you have a really good understanding of what that
means from a community perspective, from an environmental perspective, probably
also employment wise because you're involved, you know, with as
a professional off farm as well. What are your thoughts
on how we can successfully continue wonderful way of life
(19:58):
in farming and New zeal Because I think there are
things that have to change, and that's obvious, and I
think most people are on board with those changes, but
there are some really really big challenges and yeah, I
think I just love your thoughts on what that means
for us.
Speaker 7 (20:15):
Probably is that that new generation you know.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Coming into perhaps being new into farming or coming into farming,
how are we going to be successful?
Speaker 6 (20:24):
That we have to be really really firm and what
our values are and what's important to us. And I
think once you know your core values, then you can
approach anything with a bit more of an open mind.
And I think you're right. Change is inevitable, right, And
the things that served us yesterday aren't going to be
the things that serve us tomorrow. And there are going
(20:45):
to be things that have to change.
Speaker 8 (20:48):
But changes an't always.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
A bad thing.
Speaker 6 (20:50):
And maybe if we looked at things with an open mind,
and if we approached the future with a bit more
hope and optimism around our value set and what's.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Really important to me? Do you know what are the things.
Speaker 6 (21:02):
That I'm non negotiable about, and what are the other
things that maybe aren't so important that I'm worrying about
that I don't need to do, you know, like maybe
we could just think that, you know, the future is
going to be bright and we actually create that. So
if we have a bit more of an open mind,
a bit more blue sky thinking, and approach things with
hope and optimism, then.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
I don't think the challenges look nearly so scary. They
just they're just changes.
Speaker 5 (21:29):
There are opportunities, just changes.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
I like that. How do you manage to fit everything in?
So I'm genuinely asking here because you have so many
hats that you wear, whether it's you know, the mum roll,
the vet role, the whole foods role, the governance roles.
At what point do you kind of take a step
back and think, Wow, you know, this is the certain
(21:54):
direction that I'm going and I'm comfortable with this level
of busyness. What are your mechanisms I guess for juggling
all of the things all the time, because yeah, you're
covering so many different elements here. Yeah, I'd like some
advice actually personally, asking for a friends, how do you
do it all?
Speaker 8 (22:14):
Day care?
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Day care?
Speaker 8 (22:17):
And be comfortable with dropping the ball?
Speaker 6 (22:20):
Right, Like I do not achieve perfection, and so I
think you have to be and being really really compassionate
with yourself on the days you do drop the balls
and it's okay, Like you know, there's obviously some really
important things like keeping the kids alive at the end
of the day, like you know, everyone, making it safe
(22:41):
home and into bed at night is really important, but
there are some things that are so much less important.
And just be kind to yourself, like if you don't
achieve something, or if you let someone down, be humble,
say sorry, move on. You know, we are all human.
We can't achieve perfettion. You just have to be happy
(23:01):
with what you do manage to achieve in a day.
And I dropped so many balls all the time.
Speaker 8 (23:07):
Oh and have a cleaner. Yeah, outsource it takes a village.
Speaker 7 (23:13):
It does, it does.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
I totally agree with you on that one, and I
think you know done is better than perfect.
Speaker 7 (23:20):
And also you have to look at those balls.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
And say which one can I really not drop because
it's a glass one and which one you know it
will probably bounce if I drop it, And I think
that's a really important distinction to make as well. So
one thing I'm always curious about and it does relate
a little bit to this last question.
Speaker 7 (23:41):
But when you do have a lot of hats and
you do have a really.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
Busy life, I think it's just so important to get
some time out for yourself to get that I suppose
me time or the cut reefilling moments. So I'm really
interested as to what that looks like for beck Smith once.
Speaker 8 (23:59):
Again, daycare.
Speaker 6 (24:03):
No, I was yeah thinking about this and it's really
about making it a priority and scheduling. If I need
time out, it goes on the calendar. And there are
daily things that go into my daily habits and structure
that are so important to keep me, you know, my capsule,
to get me look after, to keep me healthy, because
(24:24):
I think you're right, I do have a lot of
different hats and to be maintaining that level of momentum
all the time requires like self.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
Care plus plus plus. Like I am the.
Speaker 6 (24:34):
Person that does daily yoga, I am the person who
does daily meditation and daily gratitude journal, and because if
I didn't, I couldn't keep running at the high level
that I am. So I just know that I have
to be almost excessive in the self care department, Like
I know that there shouldn't be such a thing as excessive,
but I almost overpush it so that I can be
(24:57):
able to maintain that high level of momentum. But I
think it's just really important knowing what you need to
fill your cap and yeah, scheduling it in.
Speaker 8 (25:06):
You know, it's you would schedule in.
Speaker 6 (25:07):
A coffee with a friend or a meeting for work,
So you need to schedule in that coffee with yourself
or that self care meeting for you.
Speaker 5 (25:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (25:16):
Nice.
Speaker 5 (25:17):
I read something about that recently.
Speaker 4 (25:18):
It was like, think of yourself as a CEO and
then book your own CEO meetings because you'd never cancel
on a CEO.
Speaker 5 (25:24):
And I was like, damn, it's deep.
Speaker 4 (25:26):
I like it. The question just around the rural life.
So tell us a little bit about ran fairly now
that you've been embedded into the community, what is really.
Speaker 5 (25:35):
Great about it?
Speaker 4 (25:36):
What do you love about rural life and what perhaps.
Speaker 5 (25:40):
One has been a bit of a culture shock as well.
Speaker 4 (25:42):
I mean, you've been here for you've been part of
the rural fabric now for a really long time.
Speaker 5 (25:47):
But if you can cash your mind back with.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
Any cultural differences or anythings that really stuck out to
you when you first moved to Randfirin.
Speaker 6 (25:55):
Well, start with what I really love about rural life.
So I love the fact that I have such so
much wide open space I am. I love having space,
and for me, it's really important to go out and
just be able to see so much blue sky and
breathe fresh air, and that's really really important to me.
(26:15):
It fills my soul, so having that, Like where we live,
we have amazing big open spaces and skies, so that's like,
I love that and I'm really grateful for that. I
think I've got a lot of friends in cities and
urban environments and they just can't even comprehend the degree.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
Of space we have.
Speaker 6 (26:35):
And I find I feel quite claustrophobic now and I'm
in a city for a long period of time because
I really.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Miss that space.
Speaker 6 (26:42):
With regards to rural communities, what I love is that
the people. Gosh, it's amazing. You walk down the street
and you know everyone and you can talk to everyone,
and it's just so friendly, and it's like you have
an extension to your family.
Speaker 10 (26:55):
And when you need people there there and when you
want to see with people there there, and I just
don't think you get that all the time in some
of our urban environments.
Speaker 6 (27:05):
So I am really really grateful for that too, as
from a community perspective, that we just have an extension
to our family, and my kids have an extension to
their family, like the community is there for our whole family.
Culture shocks differences. Moving here, it was really natural for me.
It was a really natural fit. I'm trying to think
(27:25):
of things that I miss. Actually I'm like a real
I'm really passionate about drum and based music, and there's
not that many places to go out and listen to
drum and based m. Really, Like I was going to say,
a friend and I were just discussing that today and
that's probably a fun fact for everybody.
Speaker 4 (27:40):
She is She's just arrived Big Smith for the real
Big Smith.
Speaker 5 (27:45):
Please don't up.
Speaker 6 (27:46):
I love it was that was probably like I had
to travel so far for different gigs, so that when
I first started.
Speaker 2 (27:54):
Was just it was a bit more traveling.
Speaker 6 (27:57):
But yeah, that was probably one of the biggest things
I missed actually and the only thing, like everything else
I need is here.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
That is pretty beautiful. I have to say I agree
with the wide open space. I think probably most people
in the rural space do.
Speaker 7 (28:10):
But yeah, it's.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
Stunning, like I've got all of the white cattle mountains.
So you'll know because you grew up in Cambridge Mangatapini
and Keko Woker and put on air from my house
and it's pretty cool. Our last Christian for you today,
I'm really curious about because you have got such a
lot going on in your life and there's a lot
of different facets as well, because you've got obviously the
(28:35):
whole story and being a vet, working on farm, your children, family.
Question is what are you hoping to achieve over the
next twelve months and what are some of those things
that you think about when you're setting those goals, because
I feel like you must be quite gold driven, so
one of those things, and how do you do that?
Speaker 7 (28:55):
How do you set those goals and what might they
look like this year?
Speaker 6 (28:58):
You'd be surprised goals are I'm not very good at
setting smart goals. It is like a confession. This is
confessions of Becksmith, right, here. I'm not very good at
setting smart goals. My goals have much more of a
feeling to them, or they are a lot softer. But
my goal for the next twelve months I'm very clear on,
(29:20):
and it is to create flow in each of those
facets you speak of, to be able to be where
my feet are at it and be present in the moment,
so not to be worried about what's going.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
On with the whole story while I'm.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
With the kids, and not to be worried about the kids,
just knowing they're under control while I'm busy out on
the farm or at.
Speaker 2 (29:41):
Work in the BET practice.
Speaker 6 (29:42):
So it's really about finding that flow and that real
comfort that everything is as it should be and that
I can just be present at the moment. That's all
I want for the next twelve months.
Speaker 4 (29:55):
I think that is an awesome goal to have and
one that I can relate to completely. Just shutting off
the brain, shutting off one part of the brain while
you know you're you're elsewhere doing something else, and yeah,
just wanting to be in the moment.
Speaker 5 (30:11):
So I love it.
Speaker 4 (30:13):
Thank you so much for your time, Beck You are
such an inspiration to so many of us and you've
got so many things on the go that you're so
involved with the community, and you're giving back in so
many different ways, and we have just been absolutely thrilled
that you could take the time to talk to us.
So thank you so much, and we can't wait to
see where you're going to be in the next twelve months.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
Rural Women in New Zealand is a community of like
minded women who are doing amazing things in their respective
regions in communities.
Speaker 4 (30:40):
This podcast celebrates the achievements, successes and stories of our
Rural Women, which are also the foundations for our organization's
rich history.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
We want you to be part of our future story,
so please join us by clicking on the link in
the show notes and we look forward to welcoming you
into the fold
Speaker 4 (31:00):
And s
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