Sophie Atkinson loves the farming life, and says it's not even work because she enjoys it so much.

Sophie Atkinson recalls helping her dad move sheep soon after she learned to walk and dreamed of having a farm of her own for as long as she can remember.

The 26-year-old took over the lease on the family's Pirinoa farm at the start of October and will be the fifth generation to manage the property which is primarily a deer farm with 300 breeding hinds.

They also have sheep and beef and the farm is fully-certified organic.

Supplied Deer farmer Sophie Atkinson with a fawn.

Atkinson credits her parents with instilling a love of agriculture in her as well as the drive and determination to succeed.

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After leaving school she went into dairy farming before taking on a stock manager role in Tolaga Bay on the East Coast, gaining valuable experience in both roles.

Supplied Atkinson enjoys a bit of hunting now and again.

Her parents had "left her to it" when she took over management in May last year so she could get a better idea of how to do things without them around.

"It was a good way to learn to manage the place because it made me responsible for everything. Women in the industry are out-numbered but the new generation are a lot more accepting of change than they used to be.

"I have always loved farming, so a day on the farm doesn't even feel like work. It has been a dream for as long as I can remember and I have done everything I can to make It happen today."

Her mother Heather Atkinson said Sophie had the full support of her family and that all of them had worked hard to bring the farm to where it is today.

Sophie and her two sisters were always expected to pitch in and do their bit over the years. They learned to think quickly and be problem solvers, she said.

"It can be quite different for women on farms as they can't always rely on brute strength like men do. Strategic thinking is vital, thinking outside the box, that is something she has learned."

Father Ian Atkinson said after Sophie successfully got through last year they were sure she was capable of taking on the farm. There was a 50-year drought last year and she got through it well.

"That was all the proof needed. We wanted to hand the farm on to someone who is capable and we have found it in Sophie. We know she will do a good job because she can, it's not because she is our daughter.

"She not only proved it to us but also to herself. There are always hard times in farming but if you learn to deal with it early it's far easier to cope."