20 | MEAT & WOOL » Thornicroft Station: Mike Cooney DINZ QA Accredited Drivers/Crates (Single Decks, Double Decks, Specialised Trophy Crates and Rubber Matting fitted throughout ) For Safe, Honest and Cost Efficient Transporting of: For all enquiries contact STEPHEN GRANT: Kill Stock, Farm to Farm, Sire and Trophy Stags. M. 027 433 5159 E. otagodeertransport@xtra.co.nz Proud to be associated with Thornicroft Station t i t it i ft t ti From farm, to forest, to front lawn Findlaters Yamaha 11 Clyde Street Balclutha 9230 Ph 03 418 0527 Findlaters has the right gear for the job Farming a career ‘you can thrive in’ Richard Loader Fresh from a late night session in the back blocks helping his team make balage for winter feed, Pamu’s Thornicroft Station manager Mike Cooney has no hesitation saying that farming was what he was born to do. Mike grew up on an Otago farm not far from the 3000-hectare sheep, beef and deer breeding and finishing property he now manages that is nestled between the shores of Lake Mahinerangi and the Lammerlaw Range. “Farming was what I grew up with and what I loved. My father passed away when I was eight and we had to move to town but every opportunity I had I would be on one of the cousins’ farms because I loved it.” Mike’s been farming for 21 years now. Over half of that time has been with Landcorp/Pamu and that is another thing that he is deeply passionate about, saying that Pamu is all about the people, the diversity of opportunities, the land and the genetics. “It’s a good progressive company to work for, with really good people. There’s a really good support structure and you’re always learning. They up-skill you and you’re also held to account. You run the farms like they were your own and that’s how I manage my people too. You set clear expectations and they’re held to account.” Niamh Cooney, helping dad shift a mob of ewes at Thornicroft. Steers being moved to lower country with a heavy snow warning out Leading, managing, growing and developing good people is one of Mike’s core strengths. At a time when finding good people can be a challenge, Mike wants to lift the image of farming and promote Pamu as an employer of choice for clever people who want to make a difference for agriculture in New Zealand and the land that is farmed. “There’s a real shortage of good people who want to make farming a career. At school, farming needs to be seen as a career that you can thrive and flourish in. People are a big part of what you do, you have to treat them well and get the best out of them, because you are a team, a bit of a family in a way. I’ve had four stock managers working for me who’ve progressed to become farm managers.” Mike says the skillful art of empathy is one of the leadership keys he has learned from his time at Pamu. Monday morning toolbox meetings present the golden opportunity to chat with his team about what they have been up to, who won the footie, how their families are doing and just get to know them beyond the farm level. Rolling country with some steep gullies, Thornicroft Station rises from 400 metres to 700 metres above sea level and presents some very cold and harsh winters. “But it’s healthy stock country,” says Mike. “All the tussock hill gullies provide good shelter for stock survival during storms and the native tussock provides excellent filtration into the waterways.” The farm is home to 20,000 stock units, fawning 2000 hinds, lambing 7000 ewes and 2200 hoggets, calving 480 cattle, with trade cattle on top of that. Mike’s career has taken him from being the shepherd on the very farm that he now manages, through progressive roles in farms and stations in both North and South Islands. Managing farms for the last fifteen years, Mike’s career is still only just touching on that midpoint, with the support of his fiancée Kristen and five children. Weaner deer on route to the deer shed to be weighed. CALL: 0274 953 083 transport@totalharvesting.co.nz or office 03 486 1186 office@totalharvesting.co.nz Total Harvesting Transport Ltd FROM GROUNDWORK, BALEAGE, HAY BALING, SILAGE MAKING, POND CLEANING TO EXCAVATION FROM FERTILISER SPREADING, BULK CARTAGE TO GENERAL CARTAGE GIVE KENNY A CALL: 0274 953 081 ag@totalharvesting.co.nz FOR SPRAYING ENQUIRIES PHONE TYLER 027 946 9803
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