Young Farmers are the future of New Zealand agriculture, so each issue we shine a spotlight on a Young Farmer. Today we chat to George Ellett.

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

I’m part of the Gisborne Young Farmers Club. It’s a relatively new club, we held our first meeting at the end of March this year.

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

A highlight would definitely be the weekend trips while I was part of the Lincoln Young Farmers.  When you’ve got great bunch of humans squeezed into 3 vans on a roadie going around few different farms talking to the managers or farm owners about how they operate and systems in place followed up with a few cold beverages it’s a recipe for wholesome trip.

A benefit of a young farmers club that I have found is that you not only meet some pretty cool new people that have similar interests both in and outside of work that you get along well with. But there is always something different going on, with mid-week meetings helping break up the week and events, fundraisers, or trips to look forward too and plan.

3. How did you become involved in agriculture?

I’ve always wanted to go farming from as soon as I can remember, growing up on small dairy farm in Karaka kicked started that dream but have gone down the sheep and beef road and haven’t looked back.

4. What is your job now?

I’ve recently started a shepherding role on a farm just out of Tiniroto, about an hour from Gisborne.  The farm is 1300ha, running 7000 ewes and 400 cows. Throughout the farm there are patches of native bush and poplars/willows through most of the gully’s, with a bit of hunting in the back few paddocks it makes it not a bad spot to work.

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

I think the pressures from outside views on the environmental impacts of farming are going to carry on increasing.  But the food and fibre products that we are producing here in New Zealand are going to be in very high demand in overseas markets compared to other countries because of how well our on-farm animal health and environmental systems are.

Going forward it would be great to see wool utilized more.  It’s a natural fibre that grown on the land here in NZ and can be manufactured into so many products.  There are some cool ideas out there, like the company Floating Peaks creating plant pots, weed mat protectors and pole protectors from wool.  Creating more household products from wool would be awesome!!

6. What are your future plans?

In the coming years I’m going to carry on progressing myself and developing my skillset and knowledge.  The end goal is to own and run a beef and sheep farm.

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

My biggest inspiration would be the farmers who have spent their years of life dedicated to improving their herds and the land that they farm on to provide world class food and fibre. Consistently showing resilience through uncontrollable natural events such as floods and droughts and ever-changing rules and regulations.