The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Boosting skills ahead of competition anniversary

The Country
8 Oct, 2017 10:15 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Nick Brown shows Tara Miller and Georgia Milne how to conduct a tractor pre-start check. Photo / Supplied

Nick Brown shows Tara Miller and Georgia Milne how to conduct a tractor pre-start check. Photo / Supplied

Stratford accountant Tracy Kivell can now add operating a chainsaw and measuring pasture to her growing list of skills.

The 25-year-old was one of a dozen women who took part in a special Skills Day at Toko on Saturday.

They learnt how to fence, manoeuvre a quad bike and trailer through a narrow opening, assemble and operate a chainsaw, measure and allocate grass to cows and conduct pre-start checks on a tractor.

"I'd never used a chainsaw or a plate meter before," said Tracy Kivell, who lives on a Midhirst dairy farm, but works at accountancy firm CMK.

"So, it was great to be able to give them a go, without large crowds of people watching,"

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Jessie-Waite-uses-a-chainsaw-to-chop-up-a-log. Photo / Supplied
Jessie-Waite-uses-a-chainsaw-to-chop-up-a-log. Photo / Supplied

The day was organised by Central Taranaki Young Farmers in the lead-up to qualifying events for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.

The prestigious contest will mark its 50th anniversary next July.

"A lot of people are often too nervous to have a crack," said CTYF chairman Nick Brown.

"Our goal was to give them the chance to try a few common modules in a more friendly, supportive and relaxed environment."

He hoped the event would help boost the number of women competing.

Kelsi Bayly lives on a dairy farm at Cardiff, but works in town.

"Usually, I wouldn't know where to start with a chainsaw, but today I cut up a log," said Kelsi enthusiastically.

"It's such a good skill to have, even if you don't use it every day."

Her team mate Jessie Waite said the Skills Day had given the pair the confidence to enter a district competition.

"I'm always the one that's encouraging others to enter. But I think I should put my money where my mouth is and give it a go," Jessie laughed.

District contests will be held in Urenui on November 4th and Hawera on November 18th.

The top two contestants at each event will secure a place in the FMG Young Farmer of the Year regional final.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

live
The Country

Fresh Auckland flood fears as high tide coincides with rush hour downpours

11 Jul 03:25 AM
The Country

Go fishing with Scott Barrett and Kaiwaka Clothing

11 Jul 02:40 AM
The Country

The Country: Aaron Cruden on All Blacks v France second test

11 Jul 02:21 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Fresh Auckland flood fears as high tide coincides with rush hour downpours
live

Fresh Auckland flood fears as high tide coincides with rush hour downpours

11 Jul 03:25 AM

Electrical storms are set to hit at evening rush as Auckland braces for 16 hours of rain.

Go fishing with Scott Barrett and Kaiwaka Clothing

Go fishing with Scott Barrett and Kaiwaka Clothing

11 Jul 02:40 AM
The Country: Aaron Cruden on All Blacks v France second test

The Country: Aaron Cruden on All Blacks v France second test

11 Jul 02:21 AM
Hamish McKay opens up about his dramatic 50kg weight loss

Hamish McKay opens up about his dramatic 50kg weight loss

11 Jul 01:29 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP