Dairy Farming Runs Deep in my Blood

  I grew up on our family farm in Tangiteroria, a place where the land wasn’t just where we worked it was where we lived, played, and built memories that still shape who I am today. Some of my most cherished childhood moments happened in the heart of those rolling green paddocks. I remember cold, frosty mornings when I’d tear across the fields barefoot, the grass crisp underfoot, my toes aching from the chill. The only relief? Stepping into a fresh cow patty nature’s unexpected heater. It sounds funny now, but at the time, it was just part of life. One winter, I remember riding alongside my dad on a horse-drawn sledge, the two of us feedin out hay to the hungry cows. The breath of the horse steamed in the cold morning air as we moved slowly across the paddock. There was something magical about it the quiet teamwork between man and animal, the simple rhythm of tossing hay, and the trust that built between father and son in those early morning hours. Summers brought their own magic, I’ll never forget the fresh sweet smell of newly cut grass it would hang in the air for days, the sound of buzzing insects, the sun on my back, and the hum of farm life all around me became the soundtrack of my youth. Our family had been dairy farming at Tangiteroria for over three generations, I grew up watching my parents pour their lives into the land. They taught me not just how to care for animals and the soil, but how to live with purpose, how to work hard, and how to respect the rhythms of nature. Looking back now, I see how much those early days gave me a deep connection to the land, a love of hard, honest work, and a quiet pride in carrying on a legacy built by those who came before me. Now, years later, those lessons still guide me, Whether I’m facing challenges or celebrating milestones, I carry with me the strength, patience, and perspective that only life on the land can teach. And as I look ahead, I hope to pass that legacy of values that came with it. Because some things are too important not to share.