When Paula McAtamney went into labour just before she and husband Daniel were due to give a two-hour presentation to judges in the 2018 Canterbury-North Otago Share Farm of the Year they had to call and cancel.
As entrants in the competition, they had already made a two-hour presentation, outlining to three judges what, why and how they farm, based on judging criteria.
“The judges can’t ask questions. We had to explain and show what we were doing and hope we were doing the right things on-farm for their judging,” Paula says.
“It’s based on best on-farm practices so you have to follow industry standards and run a good operation. It’s a big presentation and we used videos, PowerPoint and props on-farm.”
When they got through to the top five the couple had to make another two-hour presentation, this time to another three judges brought in from outside the region but complicating the picture was the imminent birth of the McAtamneys’ first child Addilyn.
“When Paula went into labour I had to ring them and say we were not going to be there,” Daniel says.
It looked like they might not be able to make their presentation at all but when one of the other finalists pulled out the next day they acted fast.
“Addy had just been born and was 36 hours old when Dan picked me up from the hospital,” Paula says.
“Luckily, Mum came down and looked after her for two hours while we ran around the farm with the judges.
“They said I went quite white at one point so I just sat down but we got there and managed to do well.”
They went on to win Share Farmer of the Year for the region and five of the eight merit awards.
The couple are enthusiastic supporters of the awards and while winning is good for the CV, equally important to them are the people they met along the way.
“The networks that you make are pretty cool, meeting people who are doing well but pushing hard,” Daniel says.
“They’re there for a reason and it’s to help you grow. We met a lot of people like that, going through the same sort of stuff or who have been through it and lots of them are now farm owners.
“There are mentors and people you look up to who were in our position not long ago. Their inspiration rubs off on you.”
Now, just five years after they turned their backs on their chosen careers and committed to dairy farming they are well on the way to their long-term goal of farm ownership. This season they are stepping up to a new 50:50 sharemilking position at Hinds, where they will milk 840 cows.
Daniel was brought up on a sheep and beef farm and was the stock manager on a sheep and beef farm. But he could see that industry might not have the career options he was looking for.
Makaiwai Farm at Rangitata Island has been home for the past two years but the chance to go 50:50 was too good the McAtamneys to pass up.
“We’ve probably moved towards our goal quicker than we thought we would but farm ownership is the ultimate,” Paula says.
Daniel interrupts, “I don’t know how many years away that will be.”
“We will get there,” Paula declares.
They believe one of the secrets to their success is working together.
Although Daniel spends more time on the farm than Paula, who has more office work to look after, they are a team and often work together with stock and Paula also rears the calves.
“You have to work together. We wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing if we weren’t,” Daniel says.
“Paula does the HR stuff and that’s really important, team building events, training and that sort of thing. She keeps an eye on that stuff and makes sure it’s happening.”
Having grown up on farms the couple believe it is a great place to bring up children and are pleased they can give that opportunity to 14-month-old Addilyn.
“She loves going on the farm – if she’s not outside in the morning she’s just a terror,” Paula says.
“She’s growing up out there doing it, which is cool,” Daniel says.
“That’s what Paula and I had. We both grew up on farms doing it. It’s a cool way to bring up kids.”
Farm Facts
Owners: Ian and Sue Thornton
Sharemilkers: Daniel and Paula McAtamney
Location: Hinds, Canterbury
Farm Size: 240ha
Cows: 840 Friesian
Production target: 2019-20 400,000kg MS
