Manawatu Farming Lifestyles

24/07/2024

Inside our July issue of Manawatū Farming Lifestyles:

- A long-standing and dedicated commitment to sheep dog trials has seen Brenda O’Leary presented with life membership of the Wanganui Sheep Dog Trial Centre.
Brenda was raised on sheep and cattle station around the North Island. Her father dabbled in sheep dog trials and Brenda used to go with him.
In addition to many years competing at hill trials and show events, Brenda has held the position of secretary for various clubs and as promotions officer for the Wanganui Centre. She’s also been a judge since 2009.
With two promising dogs in her kennels, Brenda plans to get them both to the North Island Championships next year.

- A phone call from an uncle led to Charlotte Thompson’s first permanent position in the dairy industry, starting out as a dairy assistant near Feilding.
The 22-year-old grew up on a 200 acre sheep and beef farm near Rongotea, living there for nine years.
With a love of the outdoors, all Charlotte’s previous jobs directed her towards farming. However, throughout high school she never considered farming as a career despite having an agricultural background.
It was while Charlotte was thinning kiwifruit in Te Puke that her uncle phoned with a job opportunity. The following day, Charlotte was on the phone accepting the job at Bendymere Dairies near Feilding.

- A farming background, along with a secondary school work experience course with a fencer, guided Josh Berry towards following a career in the fencing industry.
Josh grew up on a 200ha, 620-cow Foxton dairy farm where his parents are variable order shareholders. The couple also own a 600 acre drystock farm in the upper Pohangina Valley.
Although Josh considered an engineering career, he enjoyed working outdoors on farms, and fencing came top of that list.
In 2021, Josh began working for Camlitt Fencing. A year later, he was given the opportunity to go out fencing on his own.
Josh established Offroad Fencing in September 2022 and has steadily built the business since.

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25/06/2024

Inside our June issue of Manawatū Farming Lifestyles:

- When Whanganui farmers Kerry and Julie Thompson closed their Merino stud in 2017, they began purchasing Poll Merino rams from Glen Orkney Merinos in Marlborough.
Mangaiti Merinos was established by Kerry’s father Brian. Brian and his wife Olive, together with Kerry and Julie, ran a stud flock of Merinos along with a commercial flock and Simmental cattle on their two adjoining land blocks. Brian and Olive retired from farming in 2015.
Kerry and Julie now do the majority of the farm work.
All wool from the farm’s Merinos and Perendales is sold through New Zealand Merino.
The couple currently have a 10-year supply contract with New Zealand clothing manufacturer Icebreaker taking most of their Merino ewe fleece wool.

- Growing quality, certified grafted grapevines for the wine industry is the Gibbs family main focus on their 28.5ha Te Horo property.
The family’s efforts were recognised by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust (NZEFT) recently, selected as finalists in the Greater Wellington region.
Kate and her husband Tim manage the property alongside their son Harry.
Rootstock and scion wood is grown on-site which is harvested off trellis during the winter. It is then grafted in springtime to make the new vines.
The grapevines are lifted then sent to customers as dormant one-year-old vines, ready for spring planting between September and November.
All varieties are grown to order but predominantly Sauvignon Blanc at present due to international wine demand.

- The 2024 Manawatū Dairy Trainee of the Year grew up as a townie before pursuing a career in the dairy industry.
After leaving her hometown of Tauranga, Isabella Panettiere graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in animal science.
Isabella is now in her third season as herd manager on Fonterra’s 255ha, 630-cow Thornton Park farm near Longburn.
At the recent New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, Isabella placed third in the Dairy Trainee of the Year category. She also won the DairyNZ Practical Skills merit award.

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24/05/2024

Our May issue features:

- The Stewart family’s connection to their land traces back more than 100 years with each generation expanding the legacy business.
Five generations have farmed the Hiwinui property since 1886, prioritising land care and sustainable systems. Current income streams come from dairy, cattle, the family’s hospitality business Hiwinui Country Estate, and farm tours.
Stewart Dairylands took out top honours at this year’s Balance Farm Environment Awards and were also recipients of the 2024 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award.

- Planting a field of sunflowers on their Newbury lifestyle block began with a couple of objectives in mind, but Dan and Kerry Reader soon found this project expanded further.
Although the sunflower field began in honour of Kerry’s mother and the Russian-Ukraine war, the couple have found opening the gates to the community has brought joy to many people. They’ve met people from many different walks of life, too.

- Spending his life around cattle, and with a deep concern for their welfare, author Angus St John Galloway has honoured his much-loved bovine friends through his book, Moo.

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30/04/2024

Inside our latest issue:

- Opiki dairy farm manager Zayn Jones is now focusing on the Young Farmers Grand Final after winning the 2024 Taranaki Manawatu regional title.
The win comes hot on the heels of taking home last year’s Young Farmers national fencing competition trophy, which he won alongside partner Natalie Ahlborn.

- Since taking up beekeeping as youngsters, Daniel and Matthew Mason have developed their hobby into a solid business, with more honey exports on the horizon.
Over the summer of 2017, Matthew and Daniel scaled up their business to provide them both with full-time employment. Mason Brothers’ Honey now has 800 hives located in the Manawatū.

- The 2023 Manawatū Dairy Manager of the Year runner-up Toko Wilson was first introduced to milking cows while on a holiday in Tokoroa.
Toko works for Pamu Moutua (Landcorp) on their Egmont dairy unit. He has found Landcorp to be helpful and supportive in upskilling his dairy career through Primary ITO, DairyNZ and a range of other courses.

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25/03/2024

Featuring inside our March issue:

- In just four years, The Egg Project has grown from a pilot project to a fully fledged award-winning business, surviving the Covid-19 lockdown along the way.
The joint business venture between Brian Kennerley and Pip Chrystall is based in Bainesse, west of Palmerston North.
hens.
Poultry are housed in modern, temperature and air-controlled barns with full access outside to their large runs.
“Business highlights for me are helping people. It’s about a little business supplying eggs to the community," said Pip.

- Bess, one of just four horses to return to New Zealand from the battlefields of WWI, is remembered each year during the annual Anzac Day memorial service held near Bulls.
In October 1914, she left New Zealand’s shores with thousands of other horses, alongside the main body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, bound for Egypt.
Colonel Powles and Bess served together in Eqypt, Sinai, Palestine, France and Germany.
This year’s Anzac Day service will be held at Bess’s memorial on Forest Road, off Parewanui Road near Flock House, starting at 9am.

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29/02/2024

Our bumper issue 48-page February issue features:

- Five generations of the Beagley family have owned Whariti farm near Woodville. Last year, the family received a Century Farm Award from Century Farms New Zealand. The New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards programme, which began in 2005, honours farming families and their properties.

- Three years ago, Rita Batley and Vanessa Witt ventured into growing garlic together after turning a tired farm paddock into a fertile patch of land.
Rita had begun growing garlic with friends the previous year, buying a large quantity of Printanor variety. Around 20,000 cloves were planted that winter on the Moawhango Valley property near Taihape. Other varieties are grown on-site, too.
In 2020 Vanessa joined the venture to help with harvesting and the first crop sales.

- Parapara/Mākirikiri Sheep Dog Trial Club’s annual working sheep dog fundraising sale has fast become a firm fixture on the calendar.
The club’s first fundraising sale, held in 2020, had just 24 dogs presented for sale. This year, 45 dogs were entered at the sale with 19 Huntaways, 24 heading dogs and 10 youngsters sold under the auctioneer’s hammer.
Buyers and sellers travel from all over the North Island to attend the annual sale, held at Te Anui farm, near Whangaehu.
Top price from the January sale went to Simon Prouting’s Huntaway named Girl, fetching $9,800.

- A lifetime living in the country has provided the inspiration for Feilding artist Ruth Champion to draw and paint.
Growing up in a farming family, Ruth continued her connection to the land when she married a farmer.
Painting country landscapes is Ruth’s favourite subject matter but she is happy to paint other themes as well. Her art reflects New Zealand rural scenes.

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18/12/2023

Featured inside our December issue:

- The Curtis family has farmed their 560ha Rangiwahia property since 2008, establishing Riverlee Hereford and Angus studs. Murray and Fiona have involved their three children Aaron, Laura and Aiden, every step of the way.

- Alisha Jacobs’ passion for growing flowers began to bloom shortly after she was given a cactus dahlia. In 2020, she began the groundwork for her Blooming Beautiful Flower Farm and now has a busy growing season selling flowers at various markets and cafes.

11,495 copies DELIVERED FREE to rural delivery address in Manawatu.

26/11/2023

Our November issue features:

- Three generations of the Carpenter family have farmed Ruanui Station, in the hill country northwest of Taihape. Now in the hands of Andrew and Meredith Carpenter, the couple has taken the property to the next level with fencing, fertiliser and new grass species.
Ruanui runs Romney sheep, deer and Angus cattle, alongside cropping on 3,130ha. The wool clip is carted to Napier to be scoured at New Zealand Wool Scouring Ltd and then spun at Woolyarns NZ in Lower Hutt. Finally, when it reaches Auckland, the wool is woven into blankets by Inter-Weave. Andrew and Meredith design the products which also includes a range of other woollen items.

- Manawatū artist Graham Christensen is preparing for an upcoming exhibition titled Rural Life, in the lead-up to Feilding’s 150-year anniversary celebrations.
The exhibition, which is to be held at the Coach House Museum, will feature a variety of Graham’s paintings including rural scenes and activities through to farmers at the saleyards.

- Sixteen years ago, Glenn Wigley and Lisa Buchan bought their 10ha Waikawa Beach property, specifically with growing olives and blueberries in mind.
The couple started from the ground up, planting thousands of trees on their bare land, including 550 olive trees - a mix of Frantoio, Leccino, Pendolino and Koroneiki varieties.
Over the past few years, the couple has started to see the fruits of their labour, winning several awards for their olive oil.

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26/10/2023

Inside our October issue:

- Brother and sister team, Andy and Ros Scott, have been breeding alpacas on their property near Tangimoana since 2006. The siblings have built their herd up to more than 100 alpacas, investing in and breeding what they hope to be top stud males and breeding females.

- We take at look at Wanganui Sheepdog Trial Centre's Tux Yarding Challenge and Tux Handy Dog trials. Both trials were held recently with members qualifying for North Island and New Zealand Championships.

- After a successful first season, Surfing for Farmers (SFF) Whanganui is looking to hit the surf again in November.
The mental health and wellbeing initiative, launched by Stephen Thomson in Gisborne in 2018, has since spread to 28 coastal regions around New Zealand. In those five years, more than 4,000 farmers and growers have taken part.

11,495 copies DELIVERED FREE to rural delivery address in Manawatu.

04/10/2023

Inside September's issue of Manawatū Farming Lifestyles:

- Papanui Estate, farmed by the Hurley family since the late 1940s, is supporting the wool industry with the third generation creating a range of accessories from the clip grown on-farm.
In 2018, Sam and Sophie Hurley saw an opportunity to use Papanui’s wool to create alternative options. A few samples were made and their ideas developed further into creating an entire range of luggage and accessories.
Two years later, Sam and Sophie launched Honest Wolf, offering luxury everyday accessories, all designed by the couple.

- In 1924 the first intake of Flock House cadets sailed from Great Britain, arriving on New Zealand shores several weeks later to begin agricultural training.
Alasdair Bettles-Hall’s father, Victor Richard Charles Hall, was one of Flock House’s cadets who travelled to New Zealand in 1929.
In an endeavour to collate a shared history of Flock House, Alasdair wants to hear from other descendants of Flock House trainees with stories and information.
Enquiries to flockhouse.nz

- Working as a shepherd and training his polocrosse horses on the family farm ties together well for Jack Kinder.
The Kinder family own two home blocks, covering a total of 3,000 acres between Whanganui and Ohakune. Another 1,400 acre block is farmed halfway up the Paraparas.
Jack plays polocrosse for the Te Mata Club and has represented New Zealand in the NZ Juniors, NZ Intermediates and NZ Men’s teams.

24/08/2023

Inside our August issue:

- Winning this year’s Young Farmers national fencing competition came as a surprise to Manawatū couple Zayn Jones and Natalie Ahlborn.
The Young Farmers regional fencing competition, held earlier this year, was the first the pair had tackled. Winning this contest qualified Zayn and Natalie for the national event.
The couple were unsure how they would perform against professional fencing contractors. However, they found forward planning and communication among the key factors to their success. Natalie also earned the honour as the first female to have her name engraved on the national trophy.

- Gumboots have always featured in Taihape farmer Kristin Churchward’s life, through either wearing a pair out on the farm or throwing one as far as possible.
Raised on her parents sheep and beef farm east of Taihape, Kristin’s family were keen supporters of Taihape’s gumboot throwing competitions. Kristin first threw gumboots in competitions as a child, developing her technique over the years to become New Zealand’s longest reigning women’s champion record holder.

- A passion for the dairy industry has led former Manawatū Dairy Manager of the Year, Angela Strawbridge, to set up her own business as well as become a licensee with Agricademy.
Angela finds running her business fits well with her role as an Agricademy licensee, and connecting and watching people grow in the dairy industry to be rewarding.

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02/08/2023

In our July issue of Manawatu Farming Lifestyles:

- As the regional supreme winners of the Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA), the McErlean family are continuing to create a farming legacy for future generations.
The family’s Poplar Partnership primarily focuses on a large dairy operation and a Hereford stud which runs alongside.
Environmental work is also a large part of the enterprise, working alongside Horizons Regional Council to create and enlarge several wetlands on their properties.

- Since picking up a handpiece when he was eight, Reuben Alabaster has gone on to notch up several shearing titles, set a world record and win the 2023 Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year award.
Reuben comes from a long line of farmers, shearers and woolhandlers. His great-uncle, the late Ray Alabaster, shore at the inaugural Golden Shears and went on to compete nine times in the open final, twice finishing in second place. Reuben is also the cousin of world champion woolhandler Sheree Alabaster.

11,495 copies DELIVERED FREE to rural delivery address in Manawatu