Taylor, who grew up on a small dairy farm in the King Country, came to Telford in 2024 to complete a New Zealand Certificate in Farming Systems, then continued with another year of study to complete the Massey Diploma in Agriculture, which Telford delivers.
“Across the two years I learned about a wide range of topics, including animal health and husbandry, pasture and crop management, soil management, and agricultural engineering,” Taylor says, adding farm management was also covered: feed budgeting, livestock reconciliations, gross margins, cash flows, and looking at case studies around leasing land, share farming, and cash cropping.
“The courses were very practical, which meant I could apply what I was learning straight away. The knowledge and skills I gained have helped me build confidence working on farm and given me a better understanding of both the practical and management side of running a farm.”
Taylor highlights a standout experience at Telford was being was invited to apply for a newly developed Summer Internship in Farm Management with multinational food and beverage company, Danone, and being selected as the first Telford graduate for the programme.
Spending three months over the summer at Danone’s milk processing plant in the Clutha Valley, Taylor says she used all her knowledge gained at Telford as well as her dairy farm upbringing. “It was amazing… this was an incredible opportunity where I could apply both my practical experience from dairy farming and everything I learned at Telford.”
Working alongside the company's Milk Manager, Taylor helped to manage the milk portals, which determine the milk production and manufacturing at the plant.
“In my role I was able to make improvements to some existing processes; I would visit the farmers to check their processes, assist with quality control audits, and oversaw the milk sales to other dairy companies around the district.”
Taylor says the internship connected her with the professional side of the agricultural industry, and it has helped to build her understanding of how all the different parts of farming and production connect. She learned about the full milk supply chain — from farm to factory — including farmer engagement, milk sales, tanker delivery, and the computer-based side of running a large-scale operation.
“… I was able to see how the theory and practical skills I’d developed worked in a real farm setting.”
“The skills I developed at Telford, particularly in farm management, record-keeping, and working with suppliers, helped me to succeed and get the most out of this experience.”
Danone’s Balclutha Plant Manager, Beverly Cobos, says the internship programme is one important way the global company supports local talent development and investment in the future of dairying. “Danone is pleased to support young people like Taylor through internship and development opportunities,” says Beverly.
“Growing local talent is a huge part of what we do in Balclutha, whether that be working with young people at the start of their career or providing further training and growth for our more experienced team members.”
“We are proud to have that connection to the next generation through the Telford summer internship programme.”