“In Southland, AgriTeachMe Ltd, founded by dairy farming family Hannes and Lyzanne du Plessis, has launched operations….

Immigrants from South Africa 20 years ago, the couple have share-milked and contract-milked various size herds in Waikato and Southland and employed many immigrant and Kiwi staff – supporting and educating them and making sure they got the same opportunities as they had.  

At present they are contract milking in Woodlands. 

Hannes has a degree in Horticulture and Agricultural Economics and has been a Primary ITO verifier for 12 years. Lyzanne worked at Fonterra as a service specialist and for Primary ITO as a training adviser.  

“We attribute our success in the dairy industry to on-the-job training, self-study and knowledgeable employers who mentored us along the way,” said Lyzanne, “so we are excited to have found a vehicle that combines both our passion for the dairy industry and our love for educating others and setting them up for success.” 

Agricademy founder Alister Shennan said the new partners are of the highest calibre and “we’re honoured to have their expertise and experience as part of our team”.

“(they) have experienced traditional training approaches in dairy and instead gravitated to Agricademy’s innovative new model, which I’m confident will see trainees – and dairy farms – in these regions flourish.”