Young Farmers are the future of New Zealand agriculture, so each issue we shine a spotlight on a Young Farmer. Today we chat to Tararua Young Farmers Club member Hannah Mackay.

What is the name of your club, and how long have you been a member?

I am member of the Tararua Young Farmers Club.

I joined the club in November 2024 when the club was started.

What has been the highlight for you of joining Young Farmers? What are the benefits and experiences that you feel have helped you most?

Being new to the area, joining Young Farmers was a great opportunity to meet and make some lifelong friends.

It has also enabled me to get involved and help out other people in the district, helping me to connect in with the community where I live.

How did you become involved in agriculture?

I don’t come from a farming background, so my journey in agriculture started when a friend from uni asked if I’d be keen to help with docking on the farm she was working on. It was then that I got the bug for farming, and I’ve never looked back.

What is your job now?

I currently work as a shepherd on a 800-hectare sheep and beef breeding farm in Pahiatua.

We run 8500 stock units and finish all of our own young stock.

We I started in this role I was very green to the job, but I am grateful to have been offered plenty of learning opportunities which have enabled me to become more confident and competent in my role.

What do you think the future of farming will look like, and what would like to see happening in New Zealand agriculture going forward?

The future of farming will likely involve a lot more technology, like precision agriculture, where sensors and data analysis help farmers make more informed decisions about things like irrigation and fertilizer use.

I’m looking forward to seeing the improvement of technology like Halter being used on beef cattle to improve pasture quality on steep hill country.

In New Zealand, I'd love to see agriculture become even more innovative and sustainable.

This could involve more research into things like regenerative agriculture, which focuses on improving soil health and carbon sequestration.

I'd also like to see a greater emphasis on value-added products and niche markets, allowing New Zealand farmers to get a premium for their products.

What are your future plans?

Once I have established myself more in the industry I would like to travel overseas and experience other agriculture systems across the globe before returning to New Zealand to and working towards owing my own farm.

Who has been your biggest inspiration in agriculture, and why?

My biggest inspiration in agriculture is my close friend and fellow Young Farmers member Marianne Lynch.

It’s awesome seeing another young female succeeding in the industry and she is always pushing me to strive towards my goals.