How I Became - a dairy farmer w/ Shannon Munro.

Welcome to the ‘How I Became’ series where Billie talks to girls across New Zealand who are killing it in their chosen career and see how they got there!

Trying to decide what you ‘want to be when you grow up’ is hard enough as it is and your careers counsellor probably won’t have all the answers you need.

HIB aims to give you a bit of insight into different career paths and what it takes to get there.

Name: Shannon Munro

Job title: Dairy Farmer

Firstly, what drew you to dairy faming?

I loved the idea of working outdoors and with animals. I love the country and wide open spaces, so farming was really appealing to me.

What subjects did you take in high school that you think helped?

Dairy farming relies on a lot of different skills and attributes which you can learn on farm. Accounting certainly helped when we first created our company. I also really enjoyed agriculture at high school.

What did your pathway towards starting your career look like?

I started by asking lots of questions to those who were already in the industry – this way I had an idea whether it was right for me or not. My husband was offered a farm assistant role 10 years ago and I learnt a lot from following him around during that time.

What did you study/where/how long did it take?

I personally didn’t study when I began farming. Many farmers offer to teach you the skills you need when you first start in the industry. There are many amazing workshops, conferences, discussion groups, leaders, resources for you to learn while you are on the job! You can also gain qualifications while working on the job too.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The animals of course. I also love starting my day by watching the sunrise from the cowshed. It’s well worth the early morning starts.

What’s the hardest part?

Saying goodbye to your favourite cows when they are old, and sick.

What surprised you most about your job once you started working?

How much you can learn and how different your days can be! One day we could be milking cows and driving tractors, the next we could be fixing fences and looking after our young stock by giving them a dose of vitamins/minerals. Dairy farming offers a wide range of skillsets you can learn on the job.

What does an average day look like for you?

I wake up early and head to the cowshed for milking. Thus usually takes around 2 -3 hours. I organise the kids for school before the bus arrives. I then eat a big healthy breakfast to give me energy for the day. I tackle some chores at home before heading out to the farm to catch up on jobs. These jobs could be weed control, fixing a water leak, or feeding silage to our cow in the tractor. Then I head home to cook dinner and get the kids off the bus. If I have some extra time, I will catch up on bookwork too.

What advice would you give to those looking to follow a similar career path?

Always have an open mind for learning, I have been in this career for 10 years now and I’m still learning something new every day. Always take a moment to be proud of the achievements you have made. Big or small. Some days will be hard, but the hard work will be worth it when you see the results in the end.

What are the biggest challenges in your opinion to getting into dairy farming?

Finding the right role and fit for you. There are so many options and different types of dairy farms all around the country. Some big, some small. It all depends on you and what you want to achieve.

What kind of skills does your job require?

Some of the main skills and attributes you need as a farmer is to show that you have good animal welfare and handling skills. It’s also great if you can show initiative and have a keen attitude to give anything a go.

What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction?

Being able to see all your progress in just a years’ time. Dairy farmers work in seasons and each season I give myself a goal to meet before the next season arrives. This year’s goal was to ensure I put as much love and care into raising our young stock, so they grow to be beautiful friendly cows. So far so good!

What has been an absolute highlight of your career?

Starring in a TV advertisement for the amazing DairyNZ – highlighting the awesome work dairy farmers are doing in the industry and how you can be a part of it too. I never thought a dairy farmer like me could get on the big screen, but this goes to show all the different roles/jobs/positions that the dairy industry can offer you.

What’s an unexpected element to your job that people don’t realise you have to do?

A lot of administration and paperwork. However, I love this side to farming just as much being on the farm.

Describe your job in three words

Exciting, physical, rewarding.

Follow Shannon’s journey on Instagram at @divatodungarees