November 19, 2025
George McDonald’s mission to show kids where their food comes from
George McDonald is turning cows, ice cream, and lunchboxes into lively rhymes, using children’s books to reconnect kids with the story of their food.
Raised on a farm on Thompsons Track near the Ashburton River, McDonald says his rural upbringing shaped his respect for agriculture.
“Technically I’m a farm boy, but I wouldn’t call myself a farmer. I never intended to work in agriculture, but I realised if you want real purpose in your work, producing food is about as good as it gets.”
Although his career hasn’t been on the farm, McDonald has always worked close to the food chain - first with Fonterra and Dairyworks, and now as brand and channel manager at Ravensdown.
The distance from the paddock gave him perspective.
“You don’t always appreciate what you’ve got until you leave. At uni and later in Auckland I realised how lucky we are. With kids, you don’t need zoos, you just drive 15 minutes and see real animals in paddocks. I wanted to pass that sense of connection on.”
George McDonald’s mission to show kids where their food comes from
George McDonald is turning cows, ice cream, and lunchboxes into lively rhymes, using children’s books to reconnect kids with the story of their food.
Raised on a farm on Thompsons Track near the Ashburton River, McDonald says his rural upbringing shaped his respect for agriculture.
“Technically I’m a farm boy, but I wouldn’t call myself a farmer. I never intended to work in agriculture, but I realised if you want real purpose in your work, producing food is about as good as it gets.”
Although his career hasn’t been on the farm, McDonald has always worked close to the food chain - first with Fonterra and Dairyworks, and now as brand and channel manager at Ravensdown.
The distance from the paddock gave him perspective.
“You don’t always appreciate what you’ve got until you leave. At uni and later in Auckland I realised how lucky we are. With kids, you don’t need zoos, you just drive 15 minutes and see real animals in paddocks. I wanted to pass that sense of connection on.”
