Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles
When Carlos Delos Santos used to buy Anchor powdered milk in his homeland he had no idea that one day he'd be producing it.
Carlos came to New Zealand from the Philippines in his late teens and set about looking for a job.
And, despite not knowing how to tell a cow from a bull, was given the chance to work as a relief milker on a farm at Mangakino.
Roll forward 16 years and Carlos and his wife Bernice sharemilk at Ngakuru near Rotorua and have been judged one of the top dairy farming couples in the country. Earlier this year they were runners-up in the share farming section of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.
Photo: RNZ/Carol Stiles
They've calculated that in ten years time they will own a farm.
Carlos says his advice to young people getting into dairying is to complete training courses, focus on getting good experience and to look after their reputation.
"People know people. It's a small world and if you have a good reputation it's not hard to find jobs. People will chase you."
