Young Rancher Selected For Five Nations

Young Rancher Selected For Five Nations

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has selected Lauren McWilliam as the “young rancher” to represent New Zealand at next month’s Five Nations Beef Alliance in Brisbane.

The Alliance is a private entity involving the national organisations that represent beef cattle producers in Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States. It develops strategies to encourage growth in global beef trading, while also addressing any mutual concerns of members.

As one of the five member organisations, B+LNZ, assisted by New Zealand Young Farmers, selects a young rancher (aged 23 to 31) to attend the Alliance’s annual meeting. Lauren will join other young ranchers in Brisbane from 8-13 September. They will include New Zealand’s representatives from the past two years, Richard Morrison and Peter Fitz-Herbert, both of Hunterville.

The 23-year-old grew up on a Gladstone beef stud, Maungaraki Cattle Company, where her family still breed Angus, Gelbveih and Pusteral cattle. She completed at Bachelor of Business (majoring in marketing) at Massey University and is now Marketing Coordinator at Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre. Together with partner Richard Cameron, Lauren also helps manage a 530ha sheep and beef property at Mauriceville and an adjoining 200ha, which is owned in partnership with Richard’s family. The couple are excited about the prospect of building their own Gelbveih herd, with an eye to selling the quiet, maternal-natured animals.

“I’ve always wanted to concentrate on beef and saw the conference as a huge learning experience. This is a great opportunity to talk to other like-minded people, discuss where they are heading, look at new perspectives – and challenge them as well.”

As for the future, Lauren is focused on a career with as much alignment to the beef sector as possible. “Ideally, I’d like to be more directly involved in the beef industry. I’m just opening my eyes to what opportunities are out there for me in five to 10 years’ time.”

The scholarship is estimated to be worth $5,000, with B+LNZ covering all of Lauren’s expenses for the conference duration. Over the six days, the young ranchers will visit farms, feedlots and sale yards, as well as attending conference and roundtable sessions.

It has been a busy 2013 for Lauren. In May, she won the Allflex Beef Ambassador Award at this year’s Future Beef New Zealand event in Feilding. And in October she is attending the World Angus Forum in Rotorua, where she’s been selected as team captain for one of the three New Zealand teams.

B+LNZ People and Capability Manager Diane Falconer says the Alliance’s young rancher conference is an opportunity for personal development, but also an investment in the future leadership within New Zealand’s beef industry.

“Lauren was selected because of her obvious passion for cattle and the beef sector. She is already showing leadership qualities. In her own time and through her job at Taratahi, Lauren encourages other young people with an interest in beef to pursue their passion. She will do a wonderful job of representing New Zealand at the conference and we look forward to seeing this young woman continue playing an active role in our industry.”

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