Inglewood young farmer Jessie Waite, 30 is the new chair of New Zealand Young Farmers.
She was elected to the position at the organisation’s latest board meeting, replacing Kent Weir who ended his 12-month term as chair.
“I’m really looking forward to the next 12 months working with the board, NZYF national office, and members who are our key stakeholders,” she said.
South Waikato young farmer Chloe Belfield and Mackenzie young farmer Nicola Blowey have also officially taken their seats as board members, after being elected at the NZYF AGM in July. They were two of four NZYF members vying for the two positions, elected annually on a three-year term.
Waite had been a board member for two years prior to this election, said she was excited to work with Belfield and Blowey, who have hit the ground running.
“I was super-impressed with their ability to get into the board meeting and have a good grasp on the discussions. We’ve seen them grow from members to National Committee representatives and now board members; I know they will flourish in those roles,” Waite said.
Blowey, 28, is a former dairy farmer, currently working as a Dairy New Zealand extension officer. Originally from the UK, she landed in Aotearoa in 2016 and brings membership experience from other Young Farmer organisations across the globe, including the UK, Canada, and Europe.
She has held executive positions at club and regional level and also sat on the National Committee as the Aorangi delegate.
“It has been a real privilege to be a part of the team during this difficult period for our region and see Aorangi emerging now, stronger than ever, with a new motivated team of people.”
Belfield, 24, has been a member since the tender age of 17. She works for Fonterra as a business improvement lead and has also started her own business, Jones Agri Fencing.
She has held a number of roles at club, district, and regional level, most recently as the Otago Southland chair, positions that, she said, have all helped build her confidence, leadership, and governance capabilities.
“The NZ Young Farmers board is a great place and environment to continue to give back to an organisation that has given me so much, while continuing to develop my capabilities within our rural sector to benefit our rural communities and for the next generation of farmers.”
Waite said: “We’ve recently launched some key projects to make the future of the organisation sustainable with the NZYF community, and to benefit our members with the new digital platform. I am really looking forward to hitting those targets and goals and also being part of other projects that are going to see our members thrive.”
An OSPRI regional partner in Taranaki, Waite has been an NZYF member for nine years and is proud to be elected the chair, after having her sights set on being a board member for several years prior.
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