Despite the popularity of dating apps and digital connectivity, the struggle to find love remains a significant challenge for young rural individuals working on farms around the country.

Just ask 2022 Young Farmer of the Year Regional finalist Zarnie Fergusson from Kaukapakapa, a rural town north of Auckland. 30-year-old Zarnie is one of the farmers facing these struggles. She has big dreams – personally and professionally and has bravely reached out to the team at Fieldays to share her hopes and highlight the plight that single farmers face.

“Don’t get me wrong, I am not sitting at home feeling sorry for myself, I just know that I am one of many farmers who feel like this,” says Zarnie.

With Fieldays coming up she saw it as an opportunity to reach out and connect with the team and ask the question: can you help me find a love match at Fieldays?

She has previously struggled to find like-minded people who understand her lifestyle, with people not in the industry, often not understanding the commitment that goes into the job. It is hard to fathom a job where you are always on call.

“It’s a part of the job that I don’t think people consider and I wanted to bring some attention to it. Farming can be very isolating, with connection being the solution, and that is why Fieldays is so great as it brings us all together and we can meet new like-minded people”.

The four-day event provides fertile ground for fostering important face-to-face interactions. Visitors often find themselves striking up conversations with strangers, and chance interactions with individuals who share the same interests can lead to friendships or even the possibility of romantic relationships.

And going off history, the odds are good. While many people find the latest agricultural products at Fieldays, dairy farmers Mike and Ryley Short (nee McGougan) found love. Mike and Ryley's story was featured in 2018 to mark the 50th anniversary of Fieldays, capturing the impact that Fieldays has had on people's lives. Mike won the Golden Gumboot award in the 2009 Fieldays Rural Bachelor competition and met Ryley through Fieldays. The couple are still together, married with a family and farming in Feilding.

For dairy and beef farmer Zarnie, she is keen to meet a man who understands the pressures and passion of the job. She is looking for somebody who will not be offended if she leaves a date because a cow is in trouble or if she comes home not smelling like lavender.

Zarnie remains very involved with her local Young Farmer Club and enjoys mingling with her peers. She breeds Pedigree Hereford cattle, finishes Hereford-cross steers, and 50/50 sharemilks on the family dairy farm.

Her dream is to one day own a large Hereford Stud – she currently has only 30 Hereford cows but wants to grow the herd and business and be known as a top breeder for dairy service bulls.

In the rare moments when she is not on the farm, Zarnie loves reading and watching documentaries. Museums and art galleries also get a visit on days when she finds herself in Auckland with time to spare.

“The ideal person for me does not have to be a farmer, but they must have some clues about the industry and its pressure points. I am looking for somebody fun that I can spend my precious few non-working hours with and go for hikes with, read books, enjoy great food and laugh with”, she says.

Zarnie will be attending Fieldays from Wednesday to Friday this year and is keen to catch up with people in the same boat, or ideally, somebody who shares her dreams.

If you are keen to meet Zarnie, you can reach out in confidence to the team at Fieldays (marketing@nznfs.co.nz ) and we can put you in touch. Zarnie is not looking for a fleeting moment, but a long-term suitor who is as serious about life, love and Herefords as she is.