That’s just what happened to Kaikoura farmers Dave and Rebekah Kelly a couple of years ago.
The earthquake might have presented them with a new lake but it also presented them with a whole heap of problems they’re still working to overcome. In just a few minutes their rolling hills were replaced with deep crevices that posed problems for both farmer and stock. Ten years of work was gone.
It made them consider whether it was worth carrying on but it seems they made the right choice. They remembered the generations who came before them and the deep connection they had to the land.
And, the Kellys appear to be thriving, with a new-found philosophy for farming borne out of that natural disaster. They got through by accepting help, recognising what they could and couldn’t do and being okay with that and not second-guessing themselves. That’s great advice for for the rest of us, even when times aren’t so tough.
With issues such as Mycoplasma bovis giving farmers more worries that normal it’s important to have that clarity of thought. Focusing on what you can control and being confident in your decisions is the key to staying on top of things mentally and in your business. The important thing is to cut yourselves some slack, as the Kellys did. “It’s just about being able to ride through the small little humps and hollows. You make a decision and don’t look back.”
They’ve now got a renewed focus on their farming busines and are looking at new ways to farm their much-changed land. And, they’re making sure they take time out from the farm to care for themselves as well as the damaged land. It’s a great lesson for us all.
Bryan Gibson
