Wednesday, 28 October 2020 09:53

Top student off to co-op

Written by  Peter Burke
Massey’s top ag student William Robertson with Richard Greaves, Farm Source. Massey’s top ag student William Robertson with Richard Greaves, Farm Source.

Massey University's top agricultural student for 2020 is off to join Fonterra and continue his interest and passion for the dairy industry.

William Robertson received his prize at the special annual awards dinner for the top achievers in agriculture at the university, attended by about 150 students, lecturers and guests including sponsors. The guest speaker at the function was Kate Stewart, who completed her Bachelor of AgriScience (Agriculture) in 2017 and now works for DairyNZ as a consulting officer in the Lower North Island.

Roberston, who has just completed a Bachelor of Agri Commerce majoring in international agribusiness, was presented with his award by Richard Greaves, area manager of Farm Source for Central Districts.

Robertson has always been passionate about the dairy industry. This started as he grew up on a small dairy farm at Ohaupo in the Waikato. He says dairy is a very interesting industry full of good people and where everyone is down to earth. He says it’s always been a part of his life and would be very hard to leave. To that end, he’s got a placement on Fonterra’s business graduate programme and will be off to Auckland to continue his love of dairying.

“Fonterra is a going to be interesting. I am going into the big city environment from Palmerston North and it’s going to be exciting to take that next step and see where it goes,” he says.

Robertson says while the dairy industry faces many challenges, he sees it as an exciting place to be. He says dairy farmers work hard every day and do a good job dealing with the challenges they face on a daily basis. But he says it’s unfortunate that dairy farmers continue to be maligned by some people.

“You have got to work within the dairy industry to understand and appreciate it. The hours are long the environment can be stressful. The last things that people who work in the industry want to do is to hurt the industry and they are really passionate about. They are in there for the best and they really want to get involved and help it succeed,” he says.

More like this

Winston Peters questions Fonterra divestment plan

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.

Editorial: A new era for two co-ops

OPINION: Farmer shareholders of two of New Zealand's largest co-operatives have an important decision to make this month and what they decide could change the landscape of the dairy and meat sectors in New Zealand.

Should co-op sell its consumer brands?

OPINION: As CEO of the Dairy Board in the 1980s I was fortunate to work with a team of experienced and capable executives who made most of the brand investments that created the international consumer business Fonterra inherited. Soprole in Chile was the largest, but there were more than 20 countries where consumer marketing companies were established and Anchor and other brands were successfully launched.

Featured

'One more push' to eliminate FE

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling on farmers from all regions to take part in the final season of the Sheep Poo Study aiming to build a clearer picture of how facial eczema (FE) affects farms across New Zealand.

Winston Peters questions Fonterra divestment plan

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has joined the debate around the proposed sale of Fonterra’s consumer and related businesses, demanding answers from the co-operative around its milk supply deal with the buyer, Lactalis.

National

Machinery & Products

New McHale terra drive axle option

Well-known for its Fusion baler wrapper combination, Irish manufacturer McHale has launched an interesting option at the recent Irish Ploughing…

Amazone unveils flagship spreader

With the price of fertiliser still significantly higher than 2024, there is an increased onus on ensuring its spread accurately at…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Tough times

OPINION: Dairy industry players are also falling by the wayside as the economic downturn bites around the country.

MSA triumph

OPINION: Methane Science Accord, a farmer-led organisation advocating for zero tax on ruminant methane, will be quietly celebrating its first…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter