Farming didn't figure in the early career plans of New Zealand's first Dairy Woman of the Year, until love changed her mind.

Barbara Kuriger, inaugural winner of the Dairy Women's Network, Fonterra sponsored award, says farming was the last job she imagined for herself when she was growing up on her parent's property in Taranaki.

'For my parents, dairying was a lifestyle but not a passion.”
Barbara's view of the industry changed when she married Louis Kuriger and the couple moved to a farm at Oanoui in 1979 as 20 per cent sharemilkers.

'I quickly learned to love breeding the cows, the industry and the people involved and that hasn't changed,” says Barbara.

By 1988 the couple owned their first farm and were milking 200 cows – quite a sizable herd by Taranaki standards of the time. Like many farming families, Louis and Barbara shared milking and caring for their children, Craig, Rachel and Tony.

'There were times when I did the milking and Louis bathed the children.”

Dairying is one of the few careers which give parents the opportunity to spend so much time with their children and it's a lifestyle Barbara sees her own family enjoying now her grandchildren have come along.

'We didn't expect our three children would end up farming. They have tried other occupations but all, with their partners, are now part of the family business which is wonderful.”

To allow the next generation to make their own mark on the business and in the farming world, Barbara and Louis have moved to live in New Plymouth and while Louis keeps in touch with the land by carrying out contracting work on the properties, Barbara says she seldom at home, so absorbed is she in leadership and governance roles within the industry.

Those roles grew naturally from her very hands-on involvement in farming with Louis and through the many awards the couple won, which introduced them to other like-minded farmers. Barbara's passion to help the agricultural industry and those involved in it prosper saw her take on a number of leadership roles.

She is currently director of Dairy Training Ltd, a director of AgricultureITO, chair of the NZ Dairy Industry Awards Trust, a former member of the Fonterra Shareholders' Council, and past chair of the LIC National Council.

Barbara, who was the first women director LIC and has often been one of few women on other boards, has encouraged women to aspire to take active roles in determining the future of the dairy industry.
Even though there are few women on industry boards or in high profile leadership roles, Barbara doesn't believe there are barriers to them being there – other than perhaps those women put upon themselves.

'I have never faced any discrimination because I am a woman and while I'm proud to be a woman, I don't consider gender is important. It's about doing a good job and I tend to get in boots and all.”

Many other women can do what she has done, Barbara says.

'It's a matter of having confidence in yourself and believing you can achieve.”

Becoming the first New Zealand Dairy Woman of the Year is both an honour and a responsibility.

'I haven't done what I have done to win awards but it is nice to be appreciated. I hope to encourage people to nominate entrants for next year's award.”

Now she represents women in the industry in a whole new way Barbara is blazing a trail for those who will follow and plans to record her year through a regular blog yet to be set up.

'I'm not sure how to go about it but the team at the Dairy Women's Network will help me. I think it will be easier to record things as I go rather than try to create a report at the end of 12 months, and it might be more interesting for people to follow.”

It will without a doubt be an interesting year. As Dairy Woman of the Year, Barbara has won a scholarship for the prestigious Women in Leadership course run by Global Women, valued at $25,000. The scholarship is sponsored by Fonterra Milk Supply.

Michelle Wilson, chair of Dairy Women's Network, says Barbara represented the type of leadership the Dairy Women's Network wants to foster.

'The judges saw in Barbara a real demonstration of leadership by example. She exemplifies the Dairy Women's Network values of innovation, commitment, inclusiveness, credibility and integrity. Barbara displays an absolute passion for all people involved in the dairy industry.”