Courtney Goodare

Courtney grew up on a 10-hectare lifestyle block in Wanganui, surrounded by kiwifruit, sheep, a milking goat and cow, beef cattle, and plenty of manuka and gorse bushes, most of which was tackled with a slasher. After finishing school, he wasn’t sure what career path to take, but a job opportunity in Otorohanga introduced him to dairy farming, and I’ve loved (almost) every minute of it since.

Courtney became actively involved in the Young Farmers Club, which played a big role in shaping his journey. Over the next six years, he worked on a variety of farms of different sizes and systems, gaining valuable experience, before spending two years in Devon, England, milking 100 cows, then returning to New Zealand where he began contract milking with his wife.

Today, they’re 50/50 sharemilking 530 crossbred cows east of Otorohanga on a System 2 farm. It’s been a rewarding journey, and Courtney is passionate about sharing what he’s learnt with others in the industry.