“I'd like to be a farmer, can you teach me?” The moment that defines Hamish Marr’s career

Hamish Marr has been in the room for some of New Zealand Agriculture’s key discussions, yet the moment that he is most proud of and one that has defined his life more than any other was when a young boy asked him if he could teach him to be a farmer.Several years on from that initial conversation, Hamish continues to mentor and coach Fergus on his family's property on the South Island of New Zealand. “Fergus, he's a success story. He couldn't be farming, but now he is, and our industry is very lucky to have him. And I'm hoping in 20 years time, we'll still have him somewhere. I doubt he will be with me, because one day, he will be too good for me.” Amongst his other roles, Hamish has been a Nuffield scholar studying the role of Glyphosate in farming, is New Zealand’s Special Agricultural Trade Envoy and previous roles with Federated Farmers.Podcast partnership appreciation: Hamish Marr was announced as a Community and People Award recipient at the 2023 Syngenta Growth Awards in Sydney. This podcast episode is in partnership with Syngenta Australia featuring recipients of the Syngenta 2023 Growth Awards. This episode of Humans of Agriculture is proudly brought to you by Rabobank, Australia's Most Recommended Agribusiness Bank for three consecutive years running.*Exciting news - Applications for the Rabobank Rural Community Hub Program are now open, Rabobank is awarding 10 grants of $10,000 to help improve rural community hubs and halls across regional Australia.These important community spaces play a vital role in bringing people together, strengthening connections, and supporting the wellbeing of regional communities.If your local hall or community hub could benefit from funding, now is the time to apply. Applications close on 30 August 2026.To learn more and apply, visit rabobank.com.au.*RFI Global Australian Banking & Finance Awards