The North Canterbury farming couple took out the Romney section finishing just 0.34 of a point ahead of runners-up Mathew and Amy Middlemiss of Rocklands Station, Outram, before going on to win the overall breeds supreme honour in the 22nd annual ewe hogget competition in Christchurch.
The Powers have farmed the family sheep and cattle stud at Hawarden for the past 28 years.
Following a quick stint at Lincoln, Power also had a job as prime lamb drafter.
“That really opened my eyes to other breeds and other ways of farming,” Power said.
Then 18 years ago he was struggling with the Corriedales.
“I was getting frustrated with production. My brother, who farms in the North Island, dared me to change.”
Power took on the challenge and switched to Wairarapa Romney genetics and things have never looked back.
“It’s been as wet this year as it was dry last year. We have had the most favourable autumn and the stock have handled it well.
“The sheep have really expressed themselves to their maximum potential.”
The couple run 3350 flock ewes, 860 hoggets, 150 R2 cattle in a winter trading programme and grow 40ha of cereal crops on their 600ha property that has three of its four boundaries with the small rural township of Hawarden.
“We have 36 neighbours but we don’t know half of them.”
Their flock breeding objective is to breed robust, sound sheep that can handle the dry North Canterbury summers and respond by getting in lamb early to wean the heavy lambs before the schedule drops and the next dry sets in.
“Wool is also important to us and if we are going to pay $4 to shear a sheep we must be clipping as much and as good a quality wool as possible.”
In their first entry last year the Powers finished runner-up by half a point.
“I said I would only enter once but it was that half a point that brought me back a second time.
“Now it’s great to be standing up here taking the top prize.”
Power paid tribute to their right-hand man Hayden Chruchward.
“He’s been on this journey with us for eight years and been a big part in this success.”
This year 250,000 ewe hoggets from 200 entrants were judged throughout the country.
Sponsor Alliance Group representative Murray Behrent said producers who deliver the product at the right spec at the right time must be rewarded.
“Contestants in this room tonight are achieving and delivering these quality products through breeding objectives, selection and feeding regimes that help attract global premiums and keep NZ lamb ahead of other proteins on the world stage,” Behrent said.
Results:
Supreme winner and Romney section winners – Richard and Mez Power, Hawarden
Composite – Spring Valley Enterprises, Matthew and Lynley Wyeth, Masterton
Perendale – Allan and Leeann Woodrow, Gore
Fine Wool – Penvose Farms, Stuart and Lorraine Duncan, Wedderburn
Coopworth – Romani Farms, Ross and Ruth Richards, Taumarunui
Crossbred – Peter and Shona Bennett, Matawai
Flock performance award – Brian Coogan, Taihape
Large Flock and Phenotype award – Rocklands Station, Mathew and Amy Middlemass, Outram
Best quality wool award – Brent and Clare Mathews, Dannevirke
Young achievers award – Dougal and Jess Turnball, Kaikoura
