Emma Poole seen here winning the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Young Farmer of The Year Regional Final in March for the second time, clinched the national final last Friday and was back on the farm this week looking after calves. PHOTO SUPPLIED
After five days in Timaru where she became the first woman to win the Young Farmer of the Year grand final in the competition’s 55-year history, Emma Poole, husband Chris and infant Beau, were back on their Pirongia dairy farm this week – calving.
“It’s been pretty exciting. A bit of a whirlwind. We got home Sunday night,” she said.
“Back on the farm today and yesterday, trying to see how everything is and make a plan I guess.”
In an interview before the grand final, Emma said she intended to work on her fitness, maybe do some weights to build up her strength.
“It turns out to build on fitness or strength, you have to have extra energy in the tank at the end of the day.
“It turns out there wasn’t a whole lot left at the end of any of the days leading up to it. So, I never ended up doing anything strength-wise. But what I found was if you are on the farm every day working, that fitness just comes into its own.
“When I actually got to the practical day, although it was really tiring, it probably wasn’t that different to a big day’s work on the farm.
“Obviously it was very mentally gruelling, and I was absolutely buggered at the end of it.
“You don’t normally run on the farm between jobs, do you? But I was running all day.”
Emma enjoyed the fencing on the small farmlet the contestants had to run. More than 600 spectators poured into Winchester Showgrounds to watch the action unfold during Friday’s practical day. Contestants worked with quad bikes, power tools and tractors to show off their practical skills. Points added up with every challenge.
“There was a bit of fencing round the outside of that. I really enjoy fencing; it’s almost a hobby for me so to do that on the practical day was cool. Funnily enough, it’s one of those things that when you have got 600 sets of eyes watching you when you are trying to tie a knot, a few things go wrong. So, it was definitely easier doing it at home.
“My farmlet was right on the outside of the group because we were lined up, all seven of us in a row. I could really feel people watching me.”
After her first attempt at the grand final in 2019, Emma said it bothered her a bit how much publicity was given to being a woman in the competition.
She has changed her mind after reflecting on how many young women have approached her since with positive feedback.
“So, I think if even competing as a woman can inspire one other young female to get involved in the ag industry, that’s a win for me at the end of the day.”
Emma, Chris and her brother, Tim Dangen, all have experience with the competition. Emma took the Waikato Bay of Plenty Young Farmer title off Chris, the season 54 regional winner, earlier this year. Tim was last year’s grand final winner.
“I’m thinking critically about what direction I want to steer myself and our business for the next few months,” Emma said.
“Obviously it’s a bit of a juggling act. We are dairy farmers and we have got a wee son and we have to make sure we manage our time well. I’m pretty lucky I’ve got such a supportive husband who puts up with me and my antics.”
A big passion project for the family, including her brother, is encouraging young people into the agriculture industry.
They had already formed a good connection with Pirongia School that could be widened, Emma said. Schools could contact any of the seven grand finalists and most would be keen to talk to young kids about getting them on-farm and into the industry.
Emma worked as a vet at Vetora Te Awamutu for a couple of years then went on maternity leave last year. While the Young Farmer’s regional final was a good end to the maternity leave, Emma intends on going back on the farm this year and doing a bit of casual vetting in between, to keep her hand in.
Alongside the coveted title, iconic trophy and famous Cloak of Knowledge, Emma also claimed $90,000 in prizes.
New Zealand Young Farmers chief executive Lynda Coppersmith said Emma impressed the judges with her resilience, broad stroke of skills and knowledge and sheer determination.
“I’m thrilled for Emma – it’s the most prestigious farming award in the country and it’s incredible to see it go to someone who will be such a strong ambassador for not only the contest, but for the entire food and fibre sector as a whole.”
