They arrived in New Zealand well qualified for the dairy farming industry.
Johan worked as a drystock agricultural extension officer with a Bachelor of Science majoring in agriculture, and Theona is a qualified accountant.
“Immigration is a plunge,” Johan says.
“But I have a brother and his family in Hamilton already and we followed. We want to own our own piece of dirt.”
Theona says a restraint on that ambition in South Africa was their lack of capital.
“But we could see a unique opportunity in NZ to grow equity. We came with $250,000 and that was our start from the house we sold, plus our furniture.
“I like the phrase that those who don’t take chances don’t make advances – even the turtle doesn’t get ahead unless he sticks his neck out.”
The higher BW and cow productivity has also helped boost their income from stock sales that contributed 36% of their total income this season.
Their other merit award was the Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award, which again is about monitoring growth, bi-weekly pasture walks and meeting regularly with the farm owners “to bring about benefits for the farm”.
Normally there are two kale paddocks and the worst performing grass paddock to resow into grass each year – about 7% of the farm.
The seed mix is half ryegrass with the balance predominantly cocksfoot with red and white clovers and plantain.
The Bloms want their next move to be more centred on schooling for their three children aged 12, 14, and 16 years.
“Stability for our family in the next five to 10 years will probably be the driving factor for us on where we are going to be and where we school the children,” Theona says.
Meanwhile, they want to keep learning which was their motivation for entering the Waikato Farm Manager of the Year competition in 2011 and Central Plateau Sharemilker-Equity Farmer of the Year in 2013 and again this year.
“Once again we can look at the judges’ report and it is very informative feedback on how we can do better and that’s enough of a reason to enter,” she says.
Runners-up in the competition were Ross and Karla Shaw, 20% equity farm managers at Reporoa.
