Owl Farm aims to provide knowledge to those visiting the farm in many different ways.

Tuesday Farm Walks

Every Tuesday you can join Tom (Farm Manager) and Jo (Demonstration Manager) on the weekly farm walk where they assess every paddock for pasture cover and then discuss management decisions based on the results.  If you want to get your eye in or just hear about the current decisions being made on farm, it’s a great chance to have 1.5 hours with the team.

The farm walk is suitable for both current decision-makers and those new to dairying.  You will need a moderate level of fitness and flexibility to get over and under fences along the walk!

The farm walk takes place around 10am every Tuesday, but it pays to ring and let us know if you plan to join – just in case weather forces a change of plans.

Farm Focus Days

Four times a year we welcome the opportunity to host our farming community to share our seasonal results and  introduce topics relevant to Owl Farm and the dairy industry. This is a great chance for interactive discussion around the results and the pros and cons of some of the practices we are demonstrating. If you can’t be there in person, we video the presentations so you can watch at your own convenience. These days are open to farmers and rural professionals.

Our next Farm Focus Days are:

• 23 March 2023
• 8 June 2023
• 14 September 2023
• 16 November 2023

Public Open Day

Between 300-600 people visit Owl Farm on our annual Public Open Day.  With over 40% citing this as the first time they have been on a dairy farm, we endeavour to provide an experience rich in improving understanding of how dairy farms operate.  Visitors get the chance to watch the cows being milked, meet our friendly calves, understand what cows eat and how we care for the environment.  There are activities for kids and adults alike to explore, including how the tanker collects and monitors our fine quality milk, how grass and crops grow, and some of the science and technology behind dairy farming. There are lots of giveaways to be won, and a complimentary sausage sizzle.  This event is made possible by our team of partners and farmers who all contribute their time and expertise to answer questions and create an amazing day for all involved.

Our next Public Open Day will be held on Saturday 1st April 2023. 

Rosie’s World Primary School Visits

We work with DairyNZ to provide primary school visits to Owl Farm for our local schools. Using comprehensive risk assessments (RAMS) we tailor a safe interactive EOTC (Education Outside the Classroom) learning experience to meet your curriculum needs and age and class size of students. Contact DairyNZ  through their website to arrange a Rosie’s World School experience and they will support you with all the material required to make the learning a success for your tamariki.

Secondary School Visits

While St Peter’s Ag/Hort teachers effectively have a classroom of 160 hectares where they can supervise students on the farm for predetermined experiences, we also provide learning opportunities for students from other secondary schools. Events include:

• Lincoln University Ag/Geo Year 11 students Dairy Sustainability workshop in May each year
• Cambridge High School Year 10 farm visit in June each year

We are happy to provide an on-farm learning experience for secondary students throughout the Waikato/BoP that links to your learning curriculum where we have the information and experience to share with your school.  Contact Jo Sheridan (enquiries@owlfarm.nz or 021 712 680) to discuss.

Tertiary Agriculture Students

Owl Farm also provides support for tutors and students studying through ITO and universities, by offering access to data and organised visits to the farm.