The Real World

It is an exciting time for Murray Perks.

He has already scored an awesome job in the dairy industry and he hasn’t yet graduated from Lincoln University, where the 21-year-old is studying towards a Bachelor of Agricultural Science.

So Murray, tell us about this job?

Early next year I will be training as a DairyNZ consulting officer. I found out about the job through the DairyNZ scholarship I was awarded during high school. I initially wanted to go farming but my uncle suggested I should try something else first. This role will allow me to develop heaps of contacts and get a good handle on all the new research coming out.

How were you introduced to dairying?

I used to live on my uncle’s dairy farm in south Taranaki.  As I got older I worked on the farm during the weekends and school holidays. I even had a stint managing the farm, which was quite challenging because I had to learn to manage someone around my own age, which was a bit weird.

Why did you decide to stick with dairy farming?

I can never see myself in an office because I am more of an outdoors sort of person. The flexible hours are also a bonus, as is the chance to be my own boss. I am definitely the type of person to work better independently.

What’s it like studying at Lincoln? 

It’s really good. The degree covers a broad range of topics and you end up studying every facet of farming. The third and fourth years are especially interesting because you can choose the courses that best suit you.

So what advice can you give to high school students wanting to follow a similar path?

Definitely take chemistry because it was one of the most challenging papers for those in Agriculture Science. Biology is helpful and so is physics. Stats is good when it comes to research.

Try and get some practical experience on a farm. I think people suit different farm systems – it’s just a matter of going out there and finding what suits you.