After returning from Wales, the couple took on a role managing a 260-cow farm at Waverley. At the beginning of this season they took the step into contract milking for Craig and Lucy Bradley on their 92ha farm near Pihama in coastal Taranaki.
This season saw a change in farm policy on the property with a lift in cow numbers to 360 milked at peak. That was accompanied by an upgrade in farm infrastructure such as races and a new feedpad being built. As most farmers who have been involved in significant change can attest, it is rarely a smooth process with unexpected hurdles appearing when least wanted. But it’s a measure of the strength of team involved how those hurdles are met and overcome.
In their situation some challenges were calving before the races were ready and the rubberware was on-hand, and feeding maize silage to cows that had never seen it before.
But Mike and Rowena were able to circumvent or deal with these issues early in the season. It’s all been a learning experience and added to their confidence in their farming ability.
“It has been a bit of comedy of errors – no matter what you did there was always a new challenge,” Rowena said. “We’ve just become so much more laid back.”
The couple view participating in the awards as a step along their path to their ultimate goal of farm ownership. They were looking for a top six finish to help them gain an advantage when applying for sharemilking jobs in the future.
“The jobs are just getting so competitive, especially when you get to 50:50 – you just need that edge,” Rowena said.
Shortly after starting the role at Pihama, the couple found out they would need to find a new job at the end of the season due to a change in how the farm was to be operated. They’ve been able to secure a 400-cow contract milking role at Waverley on a new dairy conversion and are excited by the opportunity. Mike and Rowena were approached by the owners to manage the farm while training the next generation to take over when the couple are ready to move on.
This experience was one of the driving factors in their decision to enter the awards, fanning a spark that first came to life after they read about last year’s award winners.
Mike comes from a farming background though dairying has become the focus only over the last five years. Rowena has a degree in communication and worked as a journalist for NewstalkZB. Their time in Wales was her first farming job.
They are keen to improve their farming knowledge, regularly attending discussion groups and workshops. Their 10-year goal is farm ownership but Rowena said they are hoping to look outside the box to accelerate that.
Runners-up in the contest were New Plymouth-based contract milkers Sergio Valverde-Nandin and Kaelee Alexander. Third place went to Midhurst farm manager Carey Duggan.
The runners-up also took out the Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award and the third placegetters the Fonterra Best Practice Award.
The NZ Farmers Livestock Award went to Ben Carter of Patea and the AgITO Human Resource Management Award to Leighton Swan of Toko.
