In this episode of Growing Our Future, host Katie Rodwell speaks with Jodie Goudswaard, DairyNZ's DairyBase Manager and recent Kellogg Rural Leadership scholar.

Jodie’s research explored the values, mindsets, and practices of top-performing dairy farmers who are proving that profitability and sustainability can go hand in hand. She shares what she learned from speaking directly with farmers, the role of community and data in decision-making, and why values-driven leadership may be the key to the sector’s future.

Tune in to learn that profitability and sustainability are not opposing forces in dairy farming.

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Show notes:

Can dairy farmers be both highly profitable and environmentally sustainable?

Challenging Old Assumptions

For her Kellogg project, Jodie set out to test a common perception: that farmers can either focus on profitability or on environmental sustainability, but not both. By analysing DairyBase data and interviewing top-performing farmers, she discovered that the reality is very different. Farmers leading in both areas consistently operate from a clear set of values—particularly stewardship, resilience, and community connection.

Family, Community, and Succession

Across her interviews, one theme was clear: these were family-owned farms, often run by couples, where succession planning was seen less as a legal exercise and more as a responsibility to future generations. Strong community networks and a willingness to learn from others also stood out as common threads.

The Role of Data and Decision-Making

All of the farmers Jodie spoke with used DairyBase, not as a compliance tool, but as a way to benchmark, measure progress, and guide decisions. They emphasised the importance of credible, evidence-based information and expressed a desire for stronger partnerships between farmers and scientists to build trust in the data driving change.

From Research to Real Change

Jodie hopes her findings will encourage greater peer-to-peer learning, more opportunities for storytelling, and recognition of “values-led success” across the industry. She stresses that farmers don’t need blanket solutions or more regulation—they need good examples, support to share their journeys, and trust to adapt in ways that fit their businesses.

Reflections from Kellogg

Looking back on the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme, Jodie describes it as a transformative six months of learning, reflection, and growth. The challenge of writing a 15,000-word report, the support of her cohort, and lessons in adaptive leadership have all left a lasting mark. She now applies many of these tools with her DairyNZ colleagues and is committed to building stronger leadership skills for the future.

Key Takeaway:

Profitability and sustainability are not opposing forces in dairy farming—they are two sides of the same coin, united by farmers’ values. By celebrating stewardship, sharing credible science, and supporting farmer-to-farmer learning, the sector can thrive both financially and environmentally.