Ryan Sayers

Ryan Sayers knew early on that a life indoors was not for him. Raised on a lifestyle property in Gordonton, just outside of Hamilton, he spent his childhood surrounded by the Waikato countryside. He attended St. John’s College in Hamilton, but he always looked up to the people working out on the land. He had his mind firmly set on a career in agriculture for a long time. For Ryan, the appeal of the sector is simple. It is the physical, hands-on work that completely sells the industry to him. He also highly values the fact that a career in farming naturally crosses over with his personal hobbies. He describes himself as capable, passionate, and willing. These are three excellent traits for a young person stepping into the primary sector. 

Roots in the Waikato 

Unlike someone starting completely fresh, Ryan brings a highly solid foundation of practical knowledge to his apprenticeship at Pāmu. His parents have been the biggest influence on his career choice, supporting his drive to get out and learn the ropes early. Before he even finished high school, he was already building his rural CV. He completed his Primary ITO course while in Year 12, putting him a step ahead of the game. 

He also spent time working on a family friend’s dairy farm in Te Awamutu, getting a proper feel for the milking shed. He helped milk a herd of 200 cows in a herringbone shed and also gained valuable work experience on a much larger 600 cow rotary platform. This early exposure to different types of dairy operations provides a great understanding of how milk production works on both a small and large scale. 

His experience goes well beyond the dairy shed. Ryan spent a couple of months doing tractor contracting. Contracting requires long hours, tight seasonal deadlines, and careful attention to detail when maintaining expensive heavy machinery. Operating tractors safely is a vital skill on any farm. On top of this, he has put in a couple of years doing docking work on both large stations and smaller blocks. Docking is tough, physical work that requires stamina and good stock handling skills. Bringing this varied background into his current role gives him a massive advantage. 

The Move to Pāmu 

Stepping into the Pāmu apprenticeship programme was a highly practical decision for Ryan. He wanted the chance to give a variety of different farming systems a go before committing to one specific path. Working for a large-scale operation allows him to see exactly how different farms operate. He values the structure of the training programme and the high level of support provided once an apprentice chooses their direction. 

The transition to working life has been a very positive one. He appreciates that Pāmu treats him like a proper worker. Earning a wage, moving out of his family home, and experiencing flatting with other young people are all major milestones that make the hard physical work rewarding. Arriving on his first day at the station, he felt instantly welcomed by the team and fully excited to get started. 

A Focus on Practical Skills 

During his time as an apprentice, Ryan is focused on absorbing as much information as possible. He wants to take it all in and learn the many ways that jobs can be tackled on the farm. Rather than specialising entirely in one area straight away, he prefers to learn a wide variety of skills to become a highly capable all-rounder. 

Specifically, he is highly focused on the technical and management side of farming. He wants to master feed calculations, which is the core of running any profitable livestock operation. Knowing how to measure grass and allocate it correctly to a mob is a vital management skill. He is also keen to learn more about the animal health and medical side of farming. Being able to identify, diagnose, and treat sick animals quickly is essential for maintaining good animal welfare across the farm. 

The Outdoors and Adventure 

When he is not working the land or handling animals, Ryan is making the absolute most of his time outdoors. He is an adventurous person who loves spending his free time hunting, diving, mountain biking, camping, and tramping. 

For someone with these specific interests, a career in agriculture is the perfect fit. The rural lifestyle allows him to live right on the doorstep of the hills and the bush. It means he can easily pack up his gear and head out into nature as soon as the workday is finished. 

Looking to the Hills 

Looking ahead, Ryan has mapped out a very clear set of goals for his future in the industry. He views every new skill he learns right now as adding another step to his ladder, making it much easier to climb to the top later on. 

In five years, he sees himself living in his own house, working with cattle up in the steep hill country. A major part of this goal involves breeding and owning his own team of working dogs. Getting a good dog team together is a massive achievement for any young shepherd, requiring intense patience and daily training.

His ultimate dream is to one day own a prime dry stock block of his own. It is a big financial and operational goal, but with his practical background, his willingness to learn, and his clear passion for the land, he is heading in exactly the right direction.