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The Rural Guardian


A hands-on approach
Open days are a great way to explore and understand what agricultural tertiary pathway to pursue and how to prepare for life at university. Supplied. Many Year 12 and 13 students are beginning to map out their futures - but for those eyeing a career in agriculture, what does preparing for the industry actually look like? According to Tom Maxwell, Senior Lecturer at Lincoln University, the ag sector is hungry for capable, skilled graduates - particularly for roles such as rura
Dec 17, 20254 min read


Flocking Together in Hurunui
Good dogs, great yarns, and a day out worth leaving the farm for - the Hurunui Flock Tours are back, bringing the district together one paddock at a time. The top flocks from each area then go on to the Champion of Champions Day, which sees eight farms visited in one day, followed by a community prizegiving and dinner. Supplied. Each March, the hills and valleys of Hurunui come alive with the sound of dogs, utes, and good conversation as farmers open their gates for the annua
Dec 17, 20254 min read


Breeding for growth, grit and good constitution at Moeraki Downs
Neville Caldwell selects for growth rate, meat yield and constitution. Fertility is considered a given. Supplied. Just a few minutes inland from the Moeraki Boulders on the North Otago coast, third-generation farmer Neville Caldwell runs a Coopworth-based ram breeding operation where constitution and performance outweigh eye appeal. Caldwell established his stud about 15 years ago after attending the Gore Stud Sale and deciding he wanted more control over the quality of rams
Dec 15, 20252 min read


Nadia Lim: The Real Story of Life on the Land
"Farming is like being a slave to the most beautiful master," says Nadia Lim. "It consumes you. It's your home, your workplace, your life. But it's so beautiful, and it teaches you so many lessons." At Royalburn Station, perched high above Arrowtown on the Crown Range, Lim's days move with the rhythm of the land — and the happy chaos of three young boys. It's a long way from the TV studios and My Food Bag boardrooms where New Zealand first came to know her. Now, alongside her
Dec 12, 20258 min read


The Made Up Farmer: Glam meets gumboots in Hawke’s Bay
Ingrid Smith’s Facebook page has 15,000 followers where she blends gumboots with glamour and showcases practical make-up looks and her life on the farm. Supplied On a crisp Hawke’s Bay morning, Ingrid Smith might be found crutching sheep, chasing lambs with her children, or shifting mobs across paddocks. Her nails are neat, her lashes coated in mascara, and there’s usually a slick of long-lasting lipstick in place. It’s all part of the brand she has built -The Made Up Farme
Oct 9, 20253 min read
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