Friday, March 29, 2024

Team player

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Hiring the right people onfarm and keeping them makes life a lot easier for Waikato farmer and Federated Farmers Waikato president Chris Lewis. Sheryl Brown spoke to him about his interview tactics and management style. Staff retention has been pivotal to building a competent, experienced team of staff to allow Chris Lewis to be hands-off and spend more time away from the farm. The Federated Farmers Waikato provincial president admits he couldn’t do what he does without confidence in his team to successfully run the daily farm duties. Self-delegated to relief milker, relief calf-rearer and general farm-hand, Chris fills in the gaps on the roster when necessary and is happy to take orders from his staff. “I get a text and get told what to do. That’s a credit to my staff and that’s how I like it. “I have experienced staff and I don’t tell them what to do now – they know. That’s why I can do Federated Farmers to be honest. Without them I’d be struggling.” Located at Pukeatua, 20 minutes south-east of Te Awamutu and 280m above sea level, the 330ha farm is rolling to steep country. Chris and his wife Caroline have equal shares in the business with Chris’ parents Sam and Robyn Lewis. The 1155-cow System 4 operation has a supportive 135ha runoff next door that is used to graze replacements, winter cows and grow 45ha of maize. The business employs five full-time staff and two casual staff during calving, with Chris and Caroline helping out where needed. Ireneo Molina started as a farm assistant eight years ago. He is now farm manager and foreman, as Chris calls him, running the daily business. The two senior staff have both worked onfarm for four years. One farm assistant has worked there three seasons and the other is in his first year. The calf-rearers, who also milk the cows during June and July to give the other staff a break from the farm dairy, have worked there for five seasons.
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