Jim van der Poel Honoured for 40 Years of Service to Dairy Industry
Dairy industry leader Jim van der Poel didn't make much of the invitation he received to the recent New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards in Rotorua.
It was a visit to a dairy farm in Mossburn that changed his career path from computers to cows.
Singh, the 2022 NZ Dairy Farm Manager of the Year, and wife Ruby set up a company and moved into contract milking from June 1. They employ three staff.
He told Dairy News that they were very proud to start their own business in New Zealand.
"There' a lot of hard work behind this," he says. "We want to do a lot more in the future as well, hopefully this will lead us to farm ownership at some stages, which is our long-term goal."
Singh arrived in New Zealand in 2014 as an IT student. After completing a one-year postgraduate diploma in IT he visited a farm in Mossburn and got hooked on the dairy industry.
"I loved how the NZ dairy industry is looking after the animals, grass and the people while producing milk in sustainable and friendly way."
Singh joined the 1000-cow Mossburn property as a farm assistant.
"I never looked back since then," he says.
"It was little hard for me in the beginning to adapt to systems as it was completely different to how we farm back home in India, but it was quite exciting for me as well to learn the new ways on farm.
"I was very keen and have can-do attitude that made me good in my job most of the time."
Singh describes winning the NZ Dairy Industry Awards farm manager title as a life changing moment.
"Winning the award was great experience... where industry leaders saw my ability and my performance on the farm and my capability to manage my own personal budget and goals and admired that.
"Winning the award has increased my network into the dairy industry and I also got few good job offers."
Singh also has good words for NZ dairy farmers and co-workers who have provided him support and guidance over the years.
He sas the biggest challenge was learning to do dairy farming the New Zealand way.
"But the farmers were very supportive to teach me these things and also organisations like Primary ITO have given me the ability to understand how things are done on the farm.
"And the most important were my co-workers because we work every day within a team. And we feel like family members. The good team leads to a healthy relationship and successful business."
Singh's advice to immigrants eyeing a career in dairying is that there are plenty of opportunities to grow.
"Dairy industry of New Zealand is full of learning and career opportunities.
"You just have to work hard and be determined and love the job, which will lead you to a successful career into the dairy industry."
