They were 1999 Sharemilkers of the Year, the first of several Southland winners who went on to take the national title.
They’re now living on their own 380ha farm at Wendonside milking 500 cows on a 160ha milking platform and trading dairy stock on the 220ha of hill country.
The last 15 years have been busy ones, first joining forces with investors to buy a 1200-cow equity partnership they managed. The next move came two years later when the equity partnership bought the farm they’re on now. It was originally run as a drystock block. The couple managed that farm until they sold their shares in the equity dairy farm and bought the drystock farm.
They converted it straight away in 2004 and in 2008 bought and converted more land near Gore.
They formed another equity partnership to convert land next door to that farm but in 2010, with the global financial crisis looming, they consolidated, first selling out of the equity partnership and then selling the other Gore farm. Dylan said they’re more than happy with where they’re at now and enjoying helping another young couple move from management to 50:50 sharemilking on a nearby farm.
The awards opened up new pathways for them and set them on a track to growth.
