Hannah Speakman

2024 Finalists

Hannah Leigh Speakman

Ngāti Kahungunu

Hannah, 21, is currently employed as 2IC for Scott and Megan Rowland of Woodland Farming Ltd at Pine Hill Dairy, a 560 cow farm in Enfield, Oamaru in North Otago. The farm is Craigmore owned and consists of 170ha of flat-rolling country. Being fully irrigated, with great infrastructure, equipment, farm management systems, practices and protocols, Hannah has loved her mahi on Pine Hill and it has been a wonderful farm for her to learn and grow on.

Hannah spent her childhood in Elsthorpe, Hawke’s Bay on Edenham – a sheep and beef farm, which was managed by her dad, John. It was there where her passion for whenua and livestock began. In 2019, during the first coronavirus lockdown, Hannah's final year of high school was put on pause and she found herself back home working with her old man every day. It was then that she decided to pursue a career in farming. After watching the success of her sister Emma and brother-in-law Laurence dairy farming in Taupō, she was inspired to follow in their footsteps. At 18, with no prior experience she moved to the South Island chasing that dream. She has since spent the last three seasons working on farms in the area and has not looked back.

Hannah began working for the Rowlands in April of 2022 as a Farm Assistant. She has spent the last two years developing her skillset around feeding, pasture/grazing, animal health, maximizing production, machinery, staff management and many other aspects of running a whāma kau. Hannah is very grateful to have had the mentorship of her employer Scott. She credits his extensive farm knowledge, taught to her with much patience and enthusiasm, as having had a huge impact on furthering her dairying career. “I’m not sure where my career would be to this day if it weren’t for them, or if I'd even have one at all.”, she says. She is currently enrolled with Primary ITO and is studying Livestock Feed Supply and Demand; she has completed Milk Smart Principles and Livestock Husbandry Certificate at Level 3.

Her short term plans are to continue learning, growing and to upskill her way to become a Farm Manager. She would like to gain more confidence, with a deeper understanding of all aspects of the dairy farm, especially from a business perspective. Her long term goals are to become self-employed and add to her career by training to do animal technician work. With a focus on animal health, such as TB testing, debudding, pregnancy testing and artificial breeding.

Hannah is an active member of the Five Forks Young Farmers club and has obtained two roles on the executive committee as Teen-AG liaison and social media. These roles are very important to her as she feels strongly about whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, being inclusive in the community and showcasing a career in farming to rangatahi coming through. Hannah wants to show that if she can do it, anyone can, no matter what gender, culture or background you come from. Hannah hopes her journey can inspire those wanting to pursue a career in farming and give support to those coming into the industry the same way she was mentored.

In her spare time Hannah plays netball, is an avid runner and surfs at her local beach, Kakanui. She entered the NZDIA in the trainee of the year section. Hannah is grateful and excited to embark on this opportunity and experience with Ahuwhenua.