As a 26-year-old full time dairy farmer, Chloe Payne has also become a worldwide dairy farming celebrity.
Seven years ago, Chloe shared her passion, and talent, of cow photography on Instagram (a free photo and video sharing app) and now she, and ‘the girls’, have 165,000 followers around the globe.
Instagram allows people to upload photos or videos and share them with their followers or with a select group of friends. They can also view, comment and like posts shared by their friends on Instagram. The difference between Facebook and Instagram is that Instagram only enables posting photos and videos. Facebook allows you to post photos and videos as well other types of media, such as articles, quizzes, website links, and long videos.
“I’ve always loved cows. When I was little I found calving so exciting and always had my favourite cows,” Chloe laughs.
“Ever since I have been old enough to have a phone, I have been taking pics of cows., I have thousands on my phone and one day I thought if people can have an account for their dog surely I could have one for the cows? So I did it and it grew so fast I never thought it would be so big.”
Chloe says people are genuinely interested in dairy farming and the cows. One of her driving factors is to keep uploading photos and videos is to show how positive the New Zealand dairy industry is.
“I have a real mix of followers, however the majority are in America and quite a few are kiwi dairy farmers here,” says Chloe.
“Some people say that you can’t love cows and be a farmer. I just want to show that you can do both and that many farmers here do.”
In June Chloe took a role as a herd manager at a farm located at Ikamatua on the West Coast.
“My past role dairying on a farm in Karamea was pretty isolating and, after four years I was ready for a change, so I’m pleased to be here. I’ve already joined the young farmer group which is something I couldn’t do in Karamea due to location,.” explains Chloe.
However, Chloe is not the only new one to the farm. The farm has all new staff, and new owners who brought with them their herd from the North Island.
“The herd was previously milked via rotary so the cows are still adjusting to going through a herringbone shed. This season will be a hard one for us all, no one knows the farm and the cows don’t know the shed. ,” “This time next year we will be ticking along nicely though.”
The new employers are familiar with Chloe’s cows of New Zealand Instagram account and have followed her for years. They were also accepting of Chloe bringing her own 16 cows with her including her 9-year-old retired dairy cow superstar called ‘Brown Sugar’.
“All cows have individual personalities and I try to show that through my photography,. P people are amazed to learn that once a cow trusts you, they enjoy affection as much as a cat or dog,.” Chole says.
“There is a fine line between what I post and what I don’t. , I do like to educate people on the dairy industry and the long hours we all put in. I’m also realistic, we can’t retire them all,but what we can do is give them the best life possible and I like to show people how happy the cows really are,.” says Chloe.
“The insta account has been a huge learning experience., I call myself a full-time dairy farmer, part time cow photographer,” laughs Chloe
“Surprisingly it’s been a good way to connect with other dairy farmers around the country. My key focus is not myself or the farm, I just show how happy the cows are and that it’s not for the camera, this is real- life dairy farming being done all over the country. Most farmers are like me and really love their cows and that’s an important message to get out.”
