Business Rural Autumn 2021

| 61 High achiever ponders next challenge Stephen Overend (top right) discusses pasture growth; Stephen with daughter Molly and wife Kate. Kelly Deeks DAIRY » Stephen Overend H igh performing dairy farm manager Stephen Overend is back in the job market after six successful years at Chinese-owned Theland Farm Group’s Colosseum Dairies, a 266ha, 940-cow property at Hororata. Stephen started at Colosseum Farm in 2015 as 2IC, and progressed to farm manager in 2017. His successes have been celebrated at Synlait’s 2018/2019 Honours Awards ceremony, where he earned a Milk Quality Award for having the lowest somatic cell count of all of Synlait’s milk suppliers. For the 2019/2020 season, Stephen was named Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Manager of the Year at the Dairy Industry Awards. “I’ve been very lucky because it’s hard to break through from that 2IC position to manager,” he says. “And I’ve been lucky to have the support of a big team behind me, exemplary systems, and operations managers who are there to support your growth. Russ Young and Aiden O’Leary have both been a big part of my growth on the farm.” Stephen says he was lucky to come to Colos- seum Dairies while it was still part of Synlait Farms, the first farm group to start supplying Synlait at Dunsandel in 2008, and while it was still part- owned by one of its founders, Juliet Maclean. “Juliet is massive on systems, personal develop- ment, and people,” he says. “She is a phenomenal leader of people, and people really want to work for her. At that stage, this was the place to be because of that investment into people’s growth and devel- opment, and the lean manufacturing principles the company was running to. We were taught to sort, set, shine, standardise, and sustain, and having these principles makes your life a lot easier.” Colosseum Dairies was a heifer farm for Ste- phen’s first four seasons, and has since transitioned into a mixed age herd. He broke in 1050 heifers every year for four years and kept their somatic cell count low by doing the basics well, closely monitoring his plant and equipment, keeping up high standards of hygiene, and quickly addressing any issues. “It was a big challenge trying to break in 1050 heifers, but we got there and they are fantastic animals now. Most of them are still with me and because I’ve had them from the beginning, they are kind of my babies. They’re so quiet when they come into the shed and life is a breeze.” Stephen loves Colosseum Dairies, saying it is set up well for people and cows, helping Stephen to best look after his cows and keep them in good condition, while allowing him the time to spend training his staff and completing the other farm tasks because he’s not stuck in the shed all day. “And the other side is the people. With people like Russ and Aiden standing behind me, I’ve never felt the need to go anywhere else.” Now however, a restructure by the farm owner has Stephen looking for a new opportunity. “It has been a phenomenal ride and I will take all of these learnings with me.” In the meantime, Stephen is relishing his role as team leader for the 2020/2021 Dairy Industry Awards, taking pride and joy out of being able to help this year’s entrants to navigate their way through all of the same struggles he had to over- come last year. “I had all of these mixed feelings and doubts about my own application, and I nearly pulled out of the competition,” he says. “I know how it feels and it’s cool to see these guys coming through, and to help them in any way I can.” • Concrete • Fertiliser Spreading - Farm Mapping - GPS Tracking - Varible Rate Spreading • Livestock Cartage • Grain Cartage • Shingle Supplies • Daily Freight Leeston: 03 3248 070 Dunsandel: 03 3254 039 reception@ellesmere.co.nz The preferred milking systems partner for Dairy Farmers Ph 0800 577 583 | www.morrisonagri.co.nz Proud to support Stephen Overend & The Purata Group sales: Lee 027 33 44 365 PROUD TO SUPPLY REFRIGERATION SERVICES TO STEPHEN OVEREND ALL ANIMAL EFFLUENT SAUCERS, PUMP CHAMBERS, STONE TRAPS, WEDGES, LARGE SETTLING PONDS 20,000 & 30,000 LITRE TRACTOR DRAWN TANKERS • 8 METER PROP STIRRER & STORTH LAGOON MIXER • LOADER HIRE / DRY MUCK SPREADERS BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR OVER 45 YEARS EMAIL: robsonenviro@xtra.co.nz www.robsonenvironmental.co.nz PHONE 0800 372 003 I I I i i l Charlies Liquid Waste Rakaia