Dean, who took over the reins again last week, and I were discussing some of the regular columnists in this fine publication.
The words male, pale and stale were uttered (by me, not Dean) along with the recognition that every dog has his day and it’s important to recognise when your day is done.
Therefore, I’m going to sign off by finishing with some of the standouts from my tenure in this publication.
But before I do, I want to get in a shameless plug.
After all, getting in some shameless plugs was one of the key attractions of writing a column in New Zealand’s leading rural publication when the former editor (and co-founder of the publication alongside Williamson) Tony Leggett offered me the opportunity.
Incidentally Dean, Tony and I all set out as eager young 30-somethings in the rural media in the 1990s with a view to global domination.
While we didn’t quite get Rupert Murdoch status I’m proud to look back and say we’ve collectively had a reasonable crack at influencing what you’ve read and heard for past 25 years.
But enough nostalgia, here goes for the shameless plug.
Mycoplasma bovis and strong wool aside, farming has never been better.
Most of us baby boomers are at a stage in our lives where, from here on in, we’re really only working for our kids’ future wealth.
Part of my motivation for stepping down from this column is to spend more time doing the stuff I want to do. Golf, fitness, craft beer drinking, planting native trees, charity work and travel readily spring to mind.
With the latter in mind I’d like you to consider joining me on a 17-day southern United States farming and sightseeing tour departing November 7.
Highlights include visits to the NASA Space Centre in Houston, Elvis Presley’s Graceland home in Memphis, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, the Muhammad Ali Centre and Churchill Downs, home to the Kentucky Derby, in Louisville, the Jim Beam Distillery and the leading thoroughbred breeding studs in Lexington, a steamboat river cruise on the mighty Mississippi and three wonderful days in New Orleans taking in the historic French Quarter, the Louisiana cuisine and all that jazz.
Throw in an NBA basketball game, six farm visits along the way, plus the associated tax-deductibility, and you have the trip of a lifetime. Do it. Spend the money while you can. If you don’t, your kids will, once you’re gone.
That’s me, I’m also almost gone but not before I sign off as promised:
Standout farming story: There’s been so many. The dairy downturn of 2014 and 2015, Psa in kiwifruit, the botulism botch-up, Beingmate, Shanghai Maling and Silver Fern Farms, Crafar Farms and the foreign farm ownership controversies, climate change, ETS, the environment debate, dirty dairying and the demise of strong wool. You can take your pick from that lot but the mother of all farming stories is M bovis and it hasn’t finished playing out yet. We all love a happy ending. I hope we’re not reaching for the tissues come spring.
Standout world story: The horror of 9-11 happened before I appeared on these pages. For most of us it will be the biggest event of our lives unless Trump gets trigger happy. The Don still amazes me. He’s broken every rule in the president’s handbook. He’s a sad reflection of the times we live in where the instant gratification of mindless reality television and social media rule. Love him or loathe him, he’s the most fascinating president since JFK.
Standout politician: In my time in radio and print I’ve had the privilege of weekly contact with our four most-recent prime ministers. Helen Clarke, John Key, Bill English and Jacinda Ardern, though she’s still in her political infancy. are all outstanding in their own right. I’ve always rated Damien O’Connor and Winston’s a lot of fun but the standout is Key. Like Trump, he was not a career politician. Time will tell if Trump can do a Key and leave with dignity on his own terms and leave the place in better shape than he found it.
Standout sportsperson: Richie McCaw, Lydia Ko and, more recently, the Barrett and Whitelock farming and footy clans come to mind. But for me there can only be one. Sir Colin Meads. Getting to meet and know your absolute boyhood hero is one thing. Being given the honour of officiating at his funeral is next level. The memory of being there when the mighty Pinetree went to his grave is one I’ll take to mine.
Thanks for having me on these pages. It’s been an honour and a privilege.
I wish Dean and Cushla all the best for their new venture. This paper’s in good hands.
