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Sharma Connolly

Ashburton, Canterbury

About Sharma Connolly

"Drive in - Experienced Relief milker"

Professional Summary I am a confident, motivated farm professional with extensive hands-on experience across all aspects of dairy farming, particularly in calf rearing, animal husbandry, and milk quality. Recently, I completed a sole charge role rearing calves for a herd of 1,100 cows in Hinds. I am now seeking stable employment, whether in relief milking or other farm duties. Throughout my career, I have managed herds ranging from 200 to 1,200 cows and overseen daily operations and staff. My commitment extends to milk quality, hygiene, record keeping, and health and safety compliance. I thrive on new challenges and enjoy working with young stock. I possess strong administration and farm documentation skills. Balancing my professional life, I am dedicated to supporting my three daughters—two at home and one at university—as well as maintaining a healthy work-life balance with my husband, who holds a management role in Hinds. I am currently completing Primary ITO Level 4, with my final module due soon, and intend to enroll in the Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management Level 5. Education Primary ITO Level 4 (completion due November 2025) Enrolling in Diploma in Primary Industry Business Management Level 5 Primary ITO Level 3 (completed) Comprehensive First Aid (2023) Milk Quality Stage 1 & 2 Lead with Pride Certified (Gold Plus) for two farms (2020–2021)

Skills

Leadership

Fertilizer Application

Staff Management

Administration

Record Keeping

Feed Budgeting

Weed Control

Shed Hygiene

Pasture Management

Calf Rearing

Dairy Farming

Animal Husbandry

Vet Liaison

Reporting

Use of Cow Manager System

Consultant Liaison

Use of Protrack System

Health & Safety Compliance

Use of Minda

Feedpad Operation

Use of NAIT

Use of Farmax

Winter Grazing

Farm Maintenance

Management Report Preparation

Irrigation Management

Effluent Management

Milk Quality Assurance

Herd Management

Comprehensive First Aid Certification

Roles Interested

No details provided.

Work History

Contract Milker

•Contract

01 Jun 2014 - 01 Jan 20157 months

Sole charge of 200-cow dairy platform. Managed all daily operations with wife as first contract milking job together. Duties included milk harvesting, weed control, pasture management, record keeping, calf rearing, Minda reporting, farm maintenance, vet liaison, consultant meetings.

LOSM/Contract milking

•Contract

01 Jan 2015 - 01 Jan 20194 years

Sole charge of the day-to-day operations with the dairy platform. Responsibilities included milk harvesting, weed control, pasture management, record keeping, calf rearing, Minda recording/reporting, all farm maintenance, organizing brought in feed & minerals, dealing with vets & reps, farm consultant meetings, feed pad with maize, pk and vegetables managing 1 full time staff member as well as relief staff.

Contract Milker

•Contract

01 Jun 2019 - 01 Jan 20233 years 7 months

Sole charge of the day-to-day operations of the dairy platform. Responsibilities included milk harvesting, weed control, pasture management, record keeping, calf rearing, winter grazing crops on runoff, Minda recording/reporting, all farm maintenance, organizing brought in feed & minerals, dealing with vets & reps, farm consultant meetings, managing 5 full time staff members as well as relief staff. Our farm is ranked 5th for milk quality and 3rd = for Synlait lead with pride farms.

Contract Milker

•Contract

01 Jan 2023 - 01 May 20252 years 4 months

Sole charge of day-to-day dairy platform operations for 480 cows. Duties included milk harvesting, weed control, pasture management, record keeping, calf rearing, fertilizer spreading, winter grazing, Minda, Farmax, Cow Manager reporting, farm maintenance, feed and mineral organization, liaison with vets and consultants, staff management (1 full-time, relief staff), and shed hygiene.

Calf Rearing (Sole Charge)

01 Jul 2025 - 01 Oct 20253 months

Responsible for rearing calves in a herd of 1100 cows. Managed all aspects of young stock care, feeding, and health monitoring.