Farm worker Ruth Steele is proof of that, having been been involved in the rural sector since leaving school, despite not coming from a farming background.
Ruth grew up near Mosgiel and always enjoyed being outdoors; that has never changed — give her a job outdoors, rather than indoors, any day of the week.
Back then, having friends on farms meant holidays were spent in the country and she loved it. When it came time to leave school, she was adamant she wanted to work on a farm.
Ruth spent a year at farm training institute Telford — the only female student that year — as it was very difficult to get a job without experience.
She got a job on a farm in West Otago, and later worked on a Maniototo property, worked on a skifield, did some farm work in Australia and then had a stint at the Fortex meat works as a meat grader to earn money to go on her OE.
She ended up in London, which she did not particularly enjoy, and was a supervisor at a lettuce harvesting business, before heading to Scotland for five years. She worked as a shepherd in the Borders and really enjoyed it. She was preparing to come home when she met her now husband.
His family farm was not big enough to support another family so they decided to return to New Zealand after marrying, and the arrival of three of their four boys in Scotland, to try dairy farming. That took them to Oxford, the West Coast and finally Southland.
They now live near Greenvale and Ruth does relief milking and other farm work, including shifting break fences — "I’m the king of the fences", she quips — while her husband has a lawn-mowing and gardening business in Tapanui.
While three of their sons have left home, the couple have a high-needs son Murray who is at school at Blue Mountain College and they care for him between them. During school holidays, Ruth takes him on-farm and he loves it.
The nomination said Ruth demonstrated strength and determination and, with the challenges she faced each day, her commitment to her work was devoted.
It also said she showed strength in responsibility, trustworthiness and reliability in her work and she was well liked and respected in the community.
"She grows all her vegetables, composts, grows a magical garden, preserves, makes jam, chops wood, bakes and really cares about the animals."
After all these years, Ruth still enjoyed working with animals and being outside.
"I just couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else. I just like getting out on the bike and having a dog ... just the freedom."
