The future was foretold: 15 years ago, Dan Smith won the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management (NZIPIM) student prize awarded to the student most likely to become a successful rural professional.
Fast forward to last month and the prophecy did indeed come true as Dan was announced as the FarmIQ Systems Rural Professional of the Year for 2024.
“So that's quite a nice start and end – it makes it a bit of a full circle,” says Dan.
Dan grew up in the country, with a family business in the fertiliser and transport industries. He was a rural truck driver for several years, before venturing to the UK to do an OE where he worked for a vegetable supply chain company, similar to Talley’s.
Working in horticulture inspired him to follow a similar profession when he returned to New Zealand, so his studies were focused on business and agriculture.
He has several qualifications in farm management, dairy production systems, commerce, ruminant health, financial analysis and agriculture, as well as a master’s in applied science.
To top it off, Dan is currently studying his PhD – a thesis by publication – looking at rural contractors including hay balers, cultivators, spreaders and sprayers.
Dan’s love for tertiary education is evident, and after roles as a fertiliser rep and a bank manager, he returned to university, this time as a lecturer and mentor. His current role is farm management senior lecturer and agricultural diplomas programme director at Lincoln University.
“Part of it is lecturing, delivering course content, assisting students and writing assignments and so on. There's also quite a bit of mentoring students and motivating them and helping them to learn more, helping them understand the industry,” explains Dan.
“I also do quite a bit of stuff with the university – I am the co-chair of our teaching committee, I run well-being seminars, and I write for interest.co.nz and the NZIPIM Journal.”
He’s a busy man, but that doesn’t stop Dan from also being involved with the Ballance Farm Environment Awards and the Young Farmer of the Year Competition, and acting as a liaison with high schools.
"I think there's always opportunities there for passionate, hardworking people who are keen to get ahead, who have
an entrepreneurial spirit or just a good work ethic.
And don't underestimate the work conditions – the rural
life is a good life."
Dan appreciates the variety of his role and the fact that it never gets boring doing so many different things within the agricultural and tertiary spaces, and he’s keen to share with students that opportunities abound within the industry.
“A lot of young people think that the people before them had it easier and all the opportunities are gone, but life's always been hard. Previous generations had to work their butts off and take risks to get ahead as well.
“I think there's always opportunities there for passionate, hardworking people who are keen to get ahead, who have an entrepreneurial spirit or just a good work ethic. And don't underestimate the work conditions – the rural life is a good life. You don't have to sit in traffic jams in the morning, you can just roll out of bed and get on the four-wheeler and head out. I think that country life is worth a lot,” smiles Dan.
As for the opportunities Dan is going to grasp thanks to his prize money?
He’s got a couple of ideas, including undertaking some online wellbeing courses to complement his work in the mental health space or jetting abroad to attend next year’s IFAMA conference in Brazil.
“I'm really appreciative of the award and there's so many good rural professionals out there. I didn't even know that I qualified as a rural professional when I entered it, but it really meant a lot to me to be recognised like that,” says Dan.
Dan really values engagement with the industry and recognises the importance of attending events, being involved, and networking.
“With a job like mine it's really easy to just get lost in your bubble. I could go 10 years without leaving this campus, but getting involved in wider opportunities enables you to keep a hand on the industry and it makes us all better when we share our knowledge.”
