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Katy Day

Dairy Farm Manager
St Kilda

Leading from the Ground Up

For Katy Day, the best part of the day starts before the sun comes up. At 5 am, when the world is still quiet, she's already heading out the door to St Kilda, ready to embrace whatever challenges the day has in store. 

As Farm Manager of St Kilda's sheep milking operation, her mornings begin with what matters most – checking in with her team and making sure everyone's on the same page for the day ahead. 

"Every day is a little different, but problem solving and being outdoors sets the tone."

A Day in the Life

The rhythm of the farm flows through two milking sessions, morning and afternoon, each taking about three hours. Between them, Katy tackles the mental work – paperwork, planning, emails – while her brain is at its sharpest. Then it's out onto the land for a farm drive, checking pasture and stock, making sure everything is healthy, well-fed, and exactly where it should be.

"The rest of the day flows into whatever is most needed," she says, whether that's moving stock, treating animals, or maintaining equipment around the farm.

What Drives Her

"The challenge of problem solving, connection to the land, and working with passionate people – that's what gets me out of bed in the morning."

For Katy, these three things fuel her passion and keep her grounded in the work.

When asked about farming excellence, her answer is refreshingly straightforward: "Consistency, care, and continual improvement." It's visible in how she approaches each task – with practical planning that never loses touch with the basics, respect for the animals, the team, and the land, and a drive to keep improving each season.

Building Something Special

"Putting together a great team that I can support to achieve farm goals – that's my proudest achievement."

It's  this shoulder-to-shoulder approach that defines her leadership style. Her reward doesn't come from accolades – it comes from achieving targets and seeing her team happy and thriving.

Having transferred to Pāmu when St Kilda changed ownership from Spring Sheep, Katy has built something meaningful here. She embodies what it means to be grounded – doing the practical work with good planning, maintaining respect for everyone and everything involved in the operation.

At the heart of it all, Katy Day represents the best of farming – someone who leads with authenticity, works with dedication, and creates an environment where everyone can flourish.

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