Beyond our fences: What the world can teach us about perspective

Beyond our fences: What the world can teach us about perspective

Insights from Jane Muir, Senior People Specialist – DairyNZ

Sometimes it takes stepping away from home to really see what’s in front of you.

When you spend most of your time working behind the farm gate, it’s easy to lose sight of just how big, and connected our world really is. How every litre of milk, every decision, and every act of leadership in Aotearoa’s food and fibre sector sits within something bigger.

That’s what struck Jane Muir, Senior People Specialist at DairyNZ, when she recently travelled to the International Dairy Federation (IDF) World Conference in Chile – the largest global gathering of dairy minds, with more than 60 countries represented.

She went to share New Zealand’s story: how our international workforce has become essential to the strength and sustainability of our dairy sector. But what she brought home was something deeper – a renewed sense of context and perspective. Because when you zoom out, you don’t just see how far we’ve come, you rediscover why it all matters.

Dairy is a nutritional powerhouse

Among the most powerful reminders Jane took from the conference was just how vital dairy remains to global wellbeing. Across the world, milk and dairy products are changing lives; helping children grow, supporting maternal health, and preventing under-nutrition in developing nations.

“For those of us in the sector, it’s worth remembering that what we produce isn’t just an export, it’s nourishment,” says Jane. “Producing food is one of the most noble things we can do.”

That reminder is both grounding and galvanising. The work of every dairy farmer, processor and worker contributes to something much larger: global nutrition, growth and learning. It’s easy to overlook that when you’re caught in the day-to-day of rosters, regulations and rainfall. But viewed in context, this is purpose at its purest form.

New Zealand dairy farming is the envy of the world

Perspective also revealed that pastoral farming is not as common as we assume.  Around the world, many dairy cows live indoors for most, or all the year. In Norway, they’re typically outside for just two weeks annually!

“Our cows graze outside all year,” Jane reflected. “In other countries, being on grass is a treat.  We get to see cows enjoying grass every day.”

That simple joy matters for animals and for people. Research shows that seeing livestock in open pastures improves farmer wellbeing. What’s good for the cows, it turns out, is good for us too.

At IDF, Jane found that New Zealand’s grass-based systems, high welfare standards and unsubsidised model are widely admired. While others rely on government support, we stand largely and sustainably on our own two feet.

It’s easy to focus on the challenges. But sometimes, the healthiest thing we can do for ourselves and for our sector is to lift our gaze and see what we’ve built through a different lens.

It’s a reminder, Jane says, to pause and appreciate what we’ve built, and not take for granted the privilege of farming the way we do. And while perspective won’t make our challenges disappear, it can renew our sense of pride and purpose.

Carrying expectations and being kind to ourselves

New Zealand’s farmers and rural professionals operate under immense expectation: from the public, from policymakers, and often, from themselves. That scrutiny can be exhausting.

But as Jane points out, the pressure exists because we matter. Agriculture makes up nearly half of New Zealand’s exports; dairy alone accounts for a quarter. We’re leading not just in production, but in responsibility.

Other countries, Jane observed, take a long-term view, looking decades ahead in research and policy, not just to next year’s target. Her challenge to us all: “Let’s be kinder to ourselves. Let’s give ourselves the space to think deeply and build solutions that are sustainable for people, animals, and the planet.”

Progress isn’t a sprint. It’s a journey of reflection, recalibration, and steady leadership.

Reframing success through a global lens

In India and parts of Africa, Jane met farmers for whom success means owning two cows and producing enough milk to feed their families, educate their children, and keep their communities nourished.

That contrast landed hard. “Here, we often define success through scale and ownership,” she said. “But around the world, success is often about simply sustaining life.”

That perspective invites us to broaden our own definitions. To celebrate profitability, yes, but also balance, wellbeing, and purpose. Success can mean running a thriving business and being present with your family. It can mean caring for animals and land, while caring for yourself.

Sometimes the most important growth isn’t upwards, it’s inward.

Women are still under-represented. Everywhere

Globally, women make up 30 – 40% of the dairy workforce yet hold only 10 – 20% of leadership roles. New Zealand sits around the middle of that range – 36% of our on-farm workforce are women but, as Jane noted, there’s more work to do.

Because when women lead, things change. Female leadership drives innovation, creativity, and culture. It adds new dimensions of empathy and problem-solving to the table.

That’s why organisations like AWDT, Dairy Women’s Network, and Young Farmers play such a critical role. They empower women through education, connection, and confidence-building to create the conditions where diverse leadership can thrive.

We can also learn from other sectors that are embedding flexible work, mentorship, and visible pathways for women to lead without having to “fit” a traditional mould. Because empowerment isn’t about asking women to change. It’s about changing the system so they can rise.

As Jane shared from her own life and work experiences, leadership comes in many forms and at many stages. Real empowerment happens when workplaces make room for that diversity of experience.

The key to a bright future is creating enjoyable, nurturing workplaces

If the future of farming depends on people (and it does), then our workplaces must nourish them as well as our land.

“Farming is more than a job,” Jane says. “It’s a lifestyle, a community, and an identity. When people feel valued and connected, they stay and they thrive.”

That means offering pathways in all directions, not just upwards. Lateral movement, flexibility, and learning should be celebrated as much as promotion. And it means sharing our stories –  the real ones, not just the highlight reels, and the honest lessons that help others make informed, grounded decisions about their careers.

Because when people feel supported, they lead better, and they perform better.

The power of youth and letting them lead

The energy and ideas that will carry New Zealand’s food and fibre sector forward are already here in our young people. We just need to give them room to grow.

Jane believes in the power of youth to attract youth. Initiatives like Young Farmers’ gifting membership create pathways to connection and community, and give young people access to networks and belonging.

But real empowerment comes from trust. “We can’t rush young people into ownership or leadership roles before they’re ready,” she says. “Growth doesn’t always mean moving up. Sometimes it means expanding out.”

Her message echoes that of Cheyne Gillooly, CEO of NZ Young Farmers, who recently spoke to AWDT about giving the next generation enough time and space to upskill. Growth takes time. Confidence builds through trust, experience, and making mistakes safely. When we create space for young people to tell their own stories, to experiment, and to lead authentically, we develop future leaders and future-proof the sector itself.

Perspective as progress

Jane’s reflections from Chile serve as a powerful reminder that perspective is as much a leadership skill as it is a luxury.

When we step back, we see the bigger picture: the purpose behind our work, the privilege of where we farm, and the people whose passion keeps it all moving forward.

In the end, progress isn’t measured only by production or profit. It’s also measured by pride in what we produce, in who we are, and in how we care for one another.

Because when we grow perspective, we grow people. And that’s what truly strengthens the future of food and fibre in Aotearoa.