Farm ownership can feel like a long way off for young dairy farmers, but Abbi Ayre and Frikkie Terblance are steadily working their way towards the goal. Anne Lee speaks with the West Coast/Top of the South Dairy Industry Award winners about their journey from early careers and contract managing to leasing farms and working towards ownership, while also discussing the personal challenges they have faced along the way.

Host:

• Anne Lee, Senior Journalist, Dairy Country

Guests:

• Abbi Ayre and Frikkie Terblance, West Coast Contract Milkers

Abbi shares her experience of burnout early in her dairy career and her journey through postpartum psychosis following the births of her children, while Frikkie talks about the impact it had on their family and the lack of support available for partners. They discuss the importance of recognising the warning signs, finding practical tools to protect mental wellbeing and building connections within rural communities. The couple also explain how they have used technology such as virtual fencing to manage their farms, the lessons they have learnt from different ownership models and why keeping business arrangements simple and aligned is key to achieving their goal of owning their own farm.

Read the article featuring Abbi Ayre and Frikkie Terblance here: https://dairycountry.co.nz/from-burnout-to-balance/

Find out more about the Better Pastures Together podcast by Barenbrug here: https://barenbrug.co.nz/podcasts

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