Our family farm is located at Larpent. Along with my wife Tracy, we milk 200 cows, predominantly Holstein, and calve once a year in autumn.
We have a small ten aside double up herringbone and employ one relief milker. We have no irrigation on our farm and have perennial ryegrass pasture. We are first generation farmers. Tracy and I have three children, a son and two daughters.
My farming career started in 2004. During the last 20 years I have progressed from a farm hand to share farmer, and then in early 2020 we purchased our farm. I've always had a strong desire to dairy farm.
Our farm is 172 hectares, 130 hectares is the milking area and 42 hectares we use as the support area. Half of the farm we own and the other half we currently lease, which we have plans to purchase in the future.
I enjoy the challenges of the farm daily and seasonally and find my work very rewarding. I focus on trying to make improvements each year, however small they may be. I enjoy getting involved in local discussion groups and always seek to improve my skills and knowledge to progress our farm.
I have two Triumph motorcycles and very much enjoy an afternoon ride when I can. I love the freedom I get on the bike. It's a great way to clear my mind and I always feel more relaxed when I return home. I get away annually on the bike for a tour.