CRV Ambreed’s 2016 Lincoln scholar

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

September 2016

CRV Ambreed’s 2016 Lincoln scholar

Lincoln University’s Georgina Lyndsay is CRV Ambreed’s Lincoln University Scholarship winner for 2016.

Georgina, from Dipton in Southland, is a fourth year Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) student.

CRV Ambreed research and development manager Phil Beatson said Georgina stood out among a high calibre group of scholarship applicants.

“Georgina is an outstanding student who is very good academically and has a very wide range of interests,” he said.

Georgina was thrilled to receive the scholarship as she has a passion for agriculture and wants to make a difference within the sector.

“Having been brought up on a farm, I have a real love for animals and agriculture,” Georgina said.

“Initially I started a straight science degree but found myself taking all the agriculture papers anyway as they were more applied and big picture. Being such an influential and rapidly evolving industry, agriculture and related sectors hold great potential for further input from agricultural graduates,” Georgina said.

As part of the scholarship Georgina had the choice of a trip to one of CRV Ambreed’s international business units in the Czech Republic, Brazil, the USA or Holland. She chose Holland, home to world headquarters of CRV International.

“I am looking forward to experiencing a non-seasonal dairy industry and learning about CRV’s genetic innovations,” Georgina said. “I am also excited to gain a global understanding of agriculture and am looking forward to meeting contacts on the other side of the world.”

Georgina is hoping the trip will lead to hands-on farming experience.

The $15000 scholarship package includes $3,000 towards the cost of her tertiary studies.

“The financial support has been fantastic,” Georgina said. “Somewhere in the near future I want to work in the near-farm sector in an advisory or consultancy role. I am passionate about people and animals and want to work with rural people to solve agricultural problems.

“I am also passionate about hard physical work and get a lot of enjoyment from working hands-on with animals. Although my post-university journey is still very much a mystery, I can absolutely see myself living and working on-farm in the long-term.”

The CRV Ambreed Scholarship was established in 2010 to support and encourage Lincoln and Massey students with interests in animal husbandry, animal genetics, farm management and environmental sustainability to work in New Zealand’s dairy industry. The scheme has contributed about $200,000 towards the personal development of recipients in its time.

Former scholarship winner DairyNZ mid Canterbury consulting officer Erin Christian visited CRV Ambreed’s New Zealand headquarters in Hamilton as part of the scholarship she received in 2010. She also travelled to Holland where she learned about company research and visited the farms of CRV clients.

“My trip to Hamilton really opened my eyes to the work that goes into CRV Ambreed creating a cow to suit customers’ needs,” Erin said.

“My time in Holland was part of a longer two month trip to Europe, and during the week I was hosted by CRV I was able to see a variety of Dutch farms using CRV products and see the impact the company has had on genetics there.”

Erin heard a lot about the bulls Goldwyn and Shottle during her trip and she has seen some of their progeny in New Zealand over the years.

“It was interesting to hear the different challenges that farmers were facing over there compared to home. The trip spurred my interest in Dutch farming, and I’ve recently been back to Europe and spent an afternoon looking around some farms in the south of Holland. I was impressed by the cows, all of who were from CRV genetics.

“The ability of farmers to achieve the cow’s genetic potential over there is impressive. Challenges around environmental impacts and milk price are currently top of mind for farmers there as they are here, and for both of these issues in both countries having an efficient animal is important.”

Erin said as well as being thoroughly enjoyable, the scholarship had given her a greater understanding of breeding and genetics, how they impacted the farming system and why it was so important to focus on improving them.

“This has been a great asset to have in my current role as a consulting officer, where fitting all the parts of the farm business together is an important part of our role,” she said.

ENDS

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