From the calf shed to the vet truck: Delilah Flavell’s life with cows

Delilah Flavell spent several years dairy farming before making the switch to becoming a vet technician

From sneaking out in her pyjamas as a child to feed calves on a neighbour’s farm to becoming one of Franklin’s most trusted veterinary technicians, Delilah Flavell’s story is one of hard work, determination and a lifelong love of dairy farming.

Although her parents were not farmers, Delilah grew up next to a dairy property in rural South Auckland. The pull of the paddock was strong from the start.

“I’d sneak out in my pyjamas and help feed the calves,” she says. “My first job was teat spraying, and I got paid a $2 coin. That’s how it all started.”

What began as small jobs around the neighbourhood soon turned into regular weekend work, and eventually full-time employment on farm.

Delilah spent several years dairy farming before deciding to take her career in a slightly different direction.

From milking shed to veterinary technician

“Dairy farming can be full on, especially when you’re young and working every day without a break,” she says. “I already had a good relationship with Franklin Vets, so I started helping out casually, not even paid at first, and that eventually turned into a full-time job.”

Now a full-time veterinary technician with Franklin Vets, Delilah still milks on weekends and never strays far from the cows she loves.

 The job gives her the best of both worlds: a chance to work hands-on with animals while also supporting farmers and their herds.

“Some clients only request me because they trust me with their animals,” she says. “That’s a pretty special

feeling.”

Although her parents were not dairy farmers, Delilah Flavell’s passion for the industry blossomed at a young age

Finding her place in a male-dominated industry

Working in an industry still dominated by men has not always been easy.

Delilah says she has often had to prove she is just as capable as any of her male colleagues.

 “I’d just figure out a different way to get the job done. Sometimes my way even worked better.”

Her determination has not gone unnoticed.

 Once her family saw how well she handled life on farm, they were fully supportive, and now her younger sister is following in her footsteps, spending every spare moment working with cows too.

Changing the narrative online

Delilah’s passion for dairy extends beyond the farm gate.

 What started as a way to share photos and snippets of her day-to-day life has grown into a social media following of thousands, along with a brand ambassadorship with Kaiwaka Clothing.

“I never expected that,” she says. “I just wanted to share what I love: cows, sunsets, the day-to-day of farm life. It’s a nice way to show people that farming is about care and connection.”

While she chooses not to post the more difficult moments, she sees social media as a valuable way to educate people about modern dairy farming.

“Some people think what we do is terrible, but the way we farm here is the best for the animals,” she says.

 “I like to focus on showing the positive, like calm, curious cows and the reality of farm life.”

One of those cows, Clover, has been part of her life since she was a calf-club heifer 14 years ago.

Clover has now retired but remains firmly part of the family.

“I dried her off for good last year, but she’s still my pet,” Delilah says.

Clover is one of Flavell’s favourite cows, having been part of her life since she was a calf-club heifer 14 years ago

Building trust and connection

What Delilah enjoys most about her work is the trust she has built with farmers and the relationships that come with it.

“It’s a great feeling when people ask me to relief milk because they know how well I look after their cows,” she says. “And with the vet work, some clients only want me to come out. It shows how much they trust me.”

That trust often goes beyond animal care.

 Because she is regularly out on farm, Delilah is often one of the few people farmers talk to about how they are really doing.

“I always book a bit of extra time so I can have a chat,” she says. “If someone is stressed, we talk about it. Sometimes we’re the only people they open up to.”

Flavell shares images of what she loves on social media: curious cows and sunsets.

Looking ahead

Delilah is not one to plan too far ahead.

 She is content living in the moment and seeing where her career takes her next.

“If the right farming job came along, I might go back full-time,” she says. “But I love being a vet tech. I still get to be out on farms and part of the community, and I get my weekends.”

Wherever she ends up, one thing is certain: Delilah Flavell’s dedication to the dairy industry, her care for animals and her determination to tell the good stories of farming will keep her firmly at the heart of rural New Zealand life.