She said Ravensdown South Island shareholders voting her to the board for a three-year term was "exciting".
The best time to "get stuck in and give these things a go" was when times were tough, she said.
Her term started on Wednesday last week.
She and her family own and run beef and dairy grazing farm Altavady, near Papakaio, and dairy farm Glenkerry.
"Ravensdown is an extension of our own business here. So for me, it was always about having skin in the game and doing the right thing, not just for our farms, but for all of our farms across New Zealand."
Farming was her passion and she was in it for the "long haul".
"I'm optimistic and I feel really confident in the long-term success of agriculture in New Zealand."
The development of her governance and strategy development skills includes being a member of the North Otago Sustainable Land Management Group steering board and a board intern of Port Otago and its subsidiary Chalmers Properties.
The challenges the fertiliser industry face include farmers applying less due to environmental issues, on-farm inflation and rising costs.
Another challenge was how to remain "viable and vital to farmers".
Ravensdown chairman Bruce Wills said voting shareholders had made a prudent choice.
“The combination of Kate’s farming experience, foundational governance experience and her passion for our co-operative and the wider sector, means she is an ideal addition to the Ravensdown board. I am very much looking forward to her contribution.”
Mr Wills was the only candidate nominated for the North Island director area.
