Farm Trainers apply here
Our Mission
Growing Future Farmers (GFF)
Where trainees will learn practical workplace skills on the farm.
Theses skills could include anything from shearing, 4WD training, fencing, chainsaw use, animal health and dog training with an initial orientation course.
Each student will live on-farm, and will have meat supplied and
a living allowance payment.
Each region will have a GFF support manager as well as access to subsided equipment, clothing as well as being provided with a heading and huntaway pup.
Our Kaupapa is simple: training “by farmers, for farmers”.
Strategic priorities include
1
To provide the opportunity for motivated young people to enter the sheep, beef and deer industry with the confidence of supported training and development
2
To provide an industry respected, employer led career pathway that will enable motivated young people to progress in their career.
3
To provide NZQA approved on farm programmes underpinned by proven methods and are future focussed.
4
To provide liaison support to our geographically isolated learners.
The GFF program is a great way for Wairere to continue its history of giving young people a start in the sheep and beef sector. Aimed more specifically at those who want to get into farming and may not otherwise have such an opportunity. It is very rewarding to see the students progress so quickly.
They benefit hugely from a well-structured program of practical skills training, on-farm experience and studying for a basic qualification. These young people are growing and learning as they go and the GFF support staff have been a great help in ensuring that all involved stay on track.
Our sector desperately needs more passionate and well trained new entrants. Everyone on the staff is involved with their training and we all benefit from the experience."
Simon Buckley. Business Manager for Wairere Sheep Genetics
Brad Tatere
Chairman
Iwi Affiliations: Ngāti Kaungunu, Rangitāne, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Waitaha
Brad was born and raised in the Hawkes Bay and has been involved in the agribusiness sector from an early age. He now lives in Taupō with his wife Kirsty and his four teenage children, and continues to have involvement in a broad range of agribusinesses.
Brad has a strong commercial background. He is a Partner at Koau Capital Partners, and spent the prior 10 years in agribusiness banking, asset management and governance. Brad holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Science from Massey University, is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, an alumni of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme, and has completed the Fonterra’s Governance Development Programme.
Annabelle Subtil
Director, Sheep & Beef Farmer, North Otago
Annabelle's family owns and farms a high country sheep and beef property in Omarama.
As an employer and mother of two children, both interested in farming, she has long felt that there is not enough training for young people in agriculture. This is why she has become involved in GFF.
Now is a great time to be getting involved in farming and GFF helps provide those essential skills needed along with NZQA qualifications.
Tam Jex-Blake
Director, Sheep & Beef Farmer, Gisborne
Tam (with husband Dan) are owners of Mangapoike Ltd, a 23,000 sheep and beef farming business 50km south-west of Gisborne.
In 2016 Tam and Dan were awarded Beef + Lamb Sheep Industry Trainer of the Year and have piloted the GFF Essential Farm Skills Programme at Mangapoike since 2017.
Tam has been involved in education for many years. Due to geographical isolation, her children studied correspondence for four years. Tam then chaired the local school, Te Kura O’Manutuke for nine years and went on to chair Wanganui Collegiate School for nine years moving Collegiate from independence to state-integrated status.
Tam is a current member of the Rabobank Client Council. Tam holds an executive role on the GFF board.
Jo Johnstone
Director, Sheep & Beef Farmer, King Country
Jo grew up on a family sheep and beef farm at Birdling’s Flat, Banks Peninsula. On finishing school, she trained and worked as a Radiation Therapist in NZ, Australia, and the UK. On returning to New Zealand she married a sheep and beef farmer from Te Kuiti, King Country and have two children currently studying at university.
Jo enjoys being involved in the family farming business and took over the HR, environmental and Health and Safety responsibilities.
Jo is passionate about growing young people in the food and fibre sector and was frustrated by the lack of quality applicants in the sheep and beef industry. She was excited about the opportunity to make a real difference with the GFF employer-led initiative.
GFF offers clear and accessible pathways for young people as well as a relevant and quality tertiary education. Jo believes the real point of difference is the opportunity to offer pastoral care and support to both the student and farmer trainer.
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Hamish Murray
Director & Manager, Bluff Station, Marlborough
Hamish Murray is the manager/director of Bluff Station – a large high country property in Marlborough running Merino sheep, beef cattle and 800 beehives.
The business, run in conjunction with family, employs several shepherds, general staff and beekeepers.
Hamish studied at Lincoln University before reading economics at Cambridge University (UK). He has recently been involved in the PQF Governance group, supporting farmers recovering from the Kaikoura earthquake, and completed a Nuffield scholarship in 2019 looking at Future Farm Workplaces.
“Helping and coaching other young people involved in agriculture to grow is important to me and GFF provides a platform to do that.”
Staff Members
Wendy Paul
CEO
I have worked for several multi-national organisations over the last 25 years of my career and I have joined GFF after 18 years with dairy Co-operative Fonterra, where I held a variety of roles across supply chain, customer services, sales, risk management, crisis response, governance, brand/reputation management and organisational change.
I led the reset of the Co-op’s Purpose and shift in culture required to deliver on the long-term strategic direction where I recently held the position of Director Culture and Wellbeing.
I have also held several board roles, most recently with the New Zealand Defence Force and volunteers for Springboard Trust, an organisation focused on supporting school Principals with their Strategic Planning.
I am at my best when in service of others, making meaningful and impactful contributions to something bigger and participating in activity that makes a sustainable and intergenerational difference for communities. I am dedicated to life-long learning and is a graduate of the Global Women’s Breakthrough Leadership course and a member of the International Women’s Forum.
I hold a Certificate in Maritime Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree with Majors in Private Law and Transport Economics.
I live in the North Shore of Auckland with my husband, son and two dogs.
Helen Brennan
Business Process Lead
I have grown up in the South Wairarapa on a sheep, beef and cropping farm, I then went on to study a Diploma in Rural Business Management. From here, I spent many years shepherding and as a Farm Technician throughout the North and South Island.
I am based near Flemington, where my husband manages Te Whangai Station. We have three children aged 8, 5 and 3.
I have recently completed a Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety.
I enjoy surrounding myself with others who have the same passion as I for our Agricultural Industry and take pride in helping others succeed to achieve their goals.
Taryn Helm
Programme Operations Lead
I have come on board with Growing Future Farmers as the agriculture industry is something I am very passionate about. I see the need and space to create an opportunity to train young people, grow them into future farmers and give back to our sector.
I look forward to embarking on the two-year journey with the students, watching them grow from strength to strength into capable keen young employees.
I am based in the Gisborne Region, on a sheep & beef property with her husband and two children.
Laura Gavin
Student Success Lead
My husband, Matt, and I are sheep and beef farming just south of Gisborne with our three children. I have grown up in rural Gisborne within a family of horse riding livestock agents and auctioneers. Before starting a family I was the Sport Coordinator at Campion College and since have completed a Diploma of Primary Industry Business Management.
I am passionate about the primary industry sector and feel that Growing Future Farmers has created an excellent opportunity for young people to join our important and rewarding industry.
I am excited to join the GFF team and be a part of some special pathways into farming.
Amy Priest
Student Success Leader
I grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Western Southland and I have a background in rural banking, hospitality management and administration. My husband Joel and I have recently dived into an equity partnership on a sheep, beef and deer farm in Northern Southland along with our two school aged children .
I am really looking forward to supporting the students and building relationships with them and the farm trainers. I'm excited to see the students increase their knowledge and progress over the next two years.
I enjoying keeping fit and training for adventure racing as well as cooking, gardening and spending time with my family & friends.
Morgan Lilley
Student Success Advisor
I live in the small settlement of Te Akau, where my husband has recently accepted a Co Management role at Waimai Romney. Prior to moving to Te Akau, we were based in the Wairarapa where we managed large scale sheep and beef properties. We also spent time living on Smedley Station where I found a love for helping young people thrive in the rural sector and developed my skills in pastoral care.
I have three children and in my spare time I enjoy fishing, gardening and being active in the outdoors.
I live at Pukeokahu where my husband Dan manages Makokomiko Station a 2400ha sheep and beef property. We have two boys, Tom who is at Feilding High and Charlie attends the local Pukeokahu School. In my spare time I enjoy horse riding, gardening, being part of an active community and helping Dan on the farm.
The opportunity to be a part of Growing Future Farmers was very exciting as both Dan and myself have found it a challenge to employ suitable staff and see a need in the Agricultural Industry to help young people start their career.
I look forward to watching my students grow, achieve their goals and follow their careers once they leave the programme. I enjoy surrounding myself with like-minded people and am excited to be given the opportunity to be a part of Growing Future Farmers.
Andrea James
Student Success Advisor
Frankie Taulago
Student Success Advisor
My husband Junior and I manage a Sheep & Beef Property in Patoka along with our two young kids. Coming from an urban background; we had no knowledge of farming but fell in love with the idea of working on the land. After two years of study, I completed my Diploma in Agriculture and have worked in the industry supporting farming businesses grow and thrive. I have worked in varied roles including Agriculture Support and Sales, Administration and Farm Performance and Production Analysis.
In my spare time, I enjoy catching up with our friends & family , dance, baking and exploring our beautiful Country.
Having been through an Agriculture training program myself, it is my absolute goal to help students feel supported and thrive in our Industry. I am very much looking forward to watching students grow and enter the sector with success.
Fiona Bush
Student Success Advisor
My name is Fiona Bush and I am the Student Success Advisor in the Upper South Island region. My husband and I are sheep and beef farmers in Parnassus, North of Cheviot and we have 3 adult children. I am passionate about farming and have been heavily involved with the operations here on farm, for 25 years. Before that, I was a secondary school Physed, Health and Life skills teacher.
I feel very privileged to be part of the Growing Future Farmers team and to get involved in young people's learning journeys. My priority is to make sure they have an awesome experience, that I help grow them as great people, with a bright future in our sheep and beef industry.
Becca (Rebecca) Porter
Student Success Advisor
I grew up on a farm in Hawke’s Bay, surrounded by a close-knit rural community. I hold a degree in Sport, Health, and Human Performance from the University of Waikato, along with a Graduate Diploma in Teaching.
After three years in teaching, I ventured overseas and then worked in Australia, specifically in New South Wales and Western Australia, where I spent time driving tractors during the seeding season on a broadacre farm.
My passions include many years of competitive showjumping, tramping, and multi-sport activities, all of which keep me active and engaged. Currently, I work with Afoot Ltd, guiding high school students through the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges as they pursue their Duke of Edinburgh leadership award.
I’m excited to join GFF and collaborate with my new team in Tairawhiti. I value the importance of rural communities and look forward to building meaningful connections with both students and farmers as I grow in this role.
Kathryn (Ping) Horn
Student Success Advisor
I was attracted to this role as I enjoy working with people and seeing the students grow in knowledge.
I am married to Chris; we have three school-aged children. We have an agricultural spraying business based in Otekaieke, serving the upper Waitaki Valley and Hakataramea Valley.
I have always been involved in the rural sector; I grew up on my parent's farm in Waiau, North Canterbury. I have worked on farms, am a trained vet nurse, managed the local rural supplies store, and am now a casual employee at Farmlands Kurow.
I know the challenges of finding suitable staff, and I am excited to see where these students journeys will take them after their two years on the Growing Future Farmers programme.
Jane Taylor
Programme Support
I live up the Rangitata Gorge, near Geraldine on my partner’s farm, Rata Peaks Station where we farm sheep, beef and deer.
I am a trained Primary Teacher and am stepping back from the classroom to spend more time on the farm and in my new role with GFF. I do relief teaching around the Geraldine area and am also running an Agricultural Club at Mayfield School, one day a week.
I grew up on sheep and beef farms in the North Island around Wanganui, and moved down South 11 years ago. In my spare time I enjoy horse riding, jet boating and spending time with family and friends.
