increase font size
Quinn Morgan was named as the Ahuwhenua Young Maori Dairy Farmer of the year. CREDIT: ALPHAPIX
He’s only been in the dairy industry for just over a year, but that hasn’t stopped 26-year-old Quinn Morgan from taking out the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Dairy Farmer of the year award.
Morgan is in his first season of farming, working as a farm assistant for Sam and Kate Moore on their 155ha farm in Otakiri near Whakatane, where they milk 570 cross breed cows.
The other two finalists were Anahera Hale and Ben Purua.
Morgan says he felt humbled at winning the award. He says not everyone gets such a good start as he did – especially getting such good employers. It was a big week for him and his wife Samantha and he is grateful for the opportunities.
Morgan was born in Taumarunui. In 2007, he moved with his mother, stepfather and sister to Australia where the family sought out a new life.
While in Australia he was involved in the fitness industry, working full time with at a gym in Perth. It was there he and wife Samantha had their three children.
His farming career began when some of his relations offered him some work experience and that’s when he fell in love with the dairy sector and led to him being employed full time as a farm assistant with the Moores. Morgan says he always wanted a career that would involve his wife and family and dairying has done just that.
“The dairy lifestyle suits me – especially being home for breakfast and seeing the kids head off to school,” he told Rural News. “I like the early morning starts and the hard work. Working in the dairy industry is a real treat and as a young father it has given me stability and helped me and my wife develop great aspirations as a collective.”
Morgan says winning the Ahuwhenua Award will bring many new benefits and contacts, but also responsibility.
“I feel now that I have a responsibility to uphold the mana of the Ahuwhenua competition and to shine that light on the young farmers coming through.
“Now that I have made it and those who have gone before me have pulled me through and I am going to reach back and pull the next group of young farmers through as well,” he says.
In a few weeks the winner of the prestigious Ahuwhenua Trophy for the top Māori dairy farm will be revealed at a gala dinner in Hamilton. In the past couple of weeks, the two finalists in this year’s competition have been holding on-farm field days to showcase why they are finalists. Peter Burke has attended both field days.
Competitors from Oamaru, Ashburton and Tirau are all vying for this year’s prestigious Young Māori dairy farmer of the year title.
The finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua Trophy competition to select the top Māori dairy farm in the country are now busy planning and organising field days at their respective properties.
The search is on to select the top dairy farm for the main Ahuwhenua Trophy competition.
Entries are open for the 2024 Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award, for up-and-coming young Māori working on dairy farms around the country.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
