North Otago farmer Jane Smith standing for Ravensdown board seat
North Otago farmer Jane Smith is standing for the Ravensdown South Island director seat.
Heading into her second year at Lincoln University, her focus is on completing the next three years at Lincoln and getting involved in student life.
This year she will be serving as treasurer for the Lincoln Uni Young Farmers Club, will be involved with the Lincoln Uni Hunting Club and hopes to play hockey.
“Thankfully the scholarship means I can worry less about my own finances, with fees for my second year now 50% covered.”
Higinbottom grew up on a Tinui sheep and beef farm in the Wairarapa and is currently working on a dairy farm in Springston for her degree’s practical component.
“They encouraged me and gave me enough room to give things a go, always happy to teach and explain things on the farm to me,” she explains about her background.
“It was awesome to get the cows in on the horses and docking was always one of my favourite times of the year. I guess I always knew I wanted to be part of the agriculture sector in some way.”
Ravensdown chief executive Garry Diack says it was Higinbottom’s clear thinking and great attitude that made her a stand-out for this year’s scholarship panellists.
“At a time when we’re facing immense societal pressure and disruption, it gives me confidence that the future of New Zealand is in very capable hands,” Diack says.
“As a pipeline of leaders come through the ranks who can help farmers get the most out of innovation and technology as they navigate the evolving challenges of farming.”
Higginbottom is keeping her career options open, but she knows her future will involve helping NZ farmers one way or another.
“Last year at uni we spent a lot of time in the lab, and it’s been interesting to be involved in the science of farming,” she explains. “While I don’t necessarily want to be a scientist or go into farming straight out of university, I can definitely see myself somewhere in the middle.”
Higinbottom says that while New Zealand farmers are world leaders when it comes to sustainability, innovation and the use of technology, she’s also keen to travel abroad, learning about different cultures and ways of farming around the world.
She particularly wants to learn to relate lab research and outcomes back to Kiwi farmers and communities in a relevant, practical way.
“I would love to go to Australia and work on one of those big outback stations.
I’m intrigued to see the massive scale of farming in America, too.”
Speaking about her experiences at university and on farm, Higinbottom says she has learnt much more than she was expecting.
“I’ve been really fortunate that my bosses and manager don’t just ask me to do things. They’re taking the time to explain the reasons why things are done a certain way and make sure I get to do a variety of jobs.”
