NZ Young Farmers CEO wraps up North Island road trip

Monday 12th November 2018

Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1xHFWR7W0lWnLdWT_5mikNSUZuYrLeS5E

NZ Young Farmers’ new chief executive Lynda Coppersmith has wrapped up a whirlwind road trip across the North Island.

The trip enabled Lynda to attend NZYF-organised events and club meetings in Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki and the Waikato.

She joined 35 teachers on a Teachers’ Day Out event in Hawke’s Bay last week.

“We visited Patangata Station and the well-known Waipawa Butchery, and the Zeffer Cider Company,” said Lynda.

“Zeffer Cider is an award-winning company which has just relocated from Auckland to Hawke’s Bay, where its fruit is grown.”

Teachers’ Day Out is an annual event which gets teachers out of the classroom and into fields and factories.

“They loved it. They were absolutely blown away. The teachers met lots of inspiring people who really got their imaginations going,” she said.

It’s one of six being held this year.

The event is part of the vital work NZ Young Farmers carries out in schools to promote the primary industries.

“One of the Beef + Lamb New Zealand guest speakers talked about the huge range of careers on offer for students,” she said.

“The primary sector needs another 50,000 qualified workers by 2025. We are playing a key role in helping to achieve that target.”

NZ Young Farmers clubs organised meetings in Waipukurau, Hamilton and Toko enabling Lynda to meet members.

More than 30 Central Taranaki Young Farmers attended a meeting at the Toko Tavern.

“Those social gatherings helped me realise just how important clubs and members are to our identity,” she said.

“I met some really engaged members who are passionate about the role our organisation plays in helping young people connect and grow.”

Central Taranaki Young Farmers is using some of the money it receives from sponsor CMK to subsidise memberships for new members.

“One of the topics of discussion in Hamilton was about widening the diversity of members,” she said.

Lynda started at NZ Young Farmers on October 1st and is based in Christchurch.

“It’s handy that our office is surrounded by NZ Young Farmers clubs,” she laughed.

Lynda attended the Lincoln Young Farmers AGM and a meeting of the Tasman Region executive last month.

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