| 17 Increasing milk production all around Karen Bennett and sister Laura. Karen Phelps Southland dairy farmer Karen Bennett has expanded her business portfolio by acquiring The Lactation Station with sister Laura, an online business specialising in breastfeeding supplements, adding a unique dimension to the already successful farming operation she runs with husband Sam. “I saw it on a businesses for sale website. Because I have four children and I’ve used those products, and so had my sister Laura for her children, we were excited to be able to purchase the business together,” says Karen. The Lactation Station provides nutritional products for breastfeeding mothers, including lactation cookies, blends and teas containing galactagogues - substances believed to increase milk production. Products are available through 120 stockists nationwide and via the company website. Karen notes the amusing parallel between her farming responsibilities and the new business venture. “It’s the same as what I do on the dairy farm for cows - increasing milk production,” jokes Karen. “The business of course also diversifies our overall income.” She says the business acquisition fits perfectly with her busy lifestyle as a mother of Alexia, Leo, Roman and Maia, aged between eight months and six years while continuing to manage her responsibilities on the farm. “The Lactation Station is very hands-off for us - we can run it from our computers. I’m a stay-at-home mum with the kids so I can work on this in my spare time when the kids are napping or at school. I also do the book keeping for the farm as well, so the new business works in well,” explains Karen. The siblings have initially maintained business operations unchanged to establish a baseline but are now planning improvements. “We’ve been running it exactly the same at this stage to get it DAIRY PEOPLE » Sam and Karen Bennett Proud to support Sam and Karen Bennett 287 Sparbush School Road, Northhope to where we want it to be and will now be making our own personal touches. We’re in the middle of changing the packaging, but all the products are staying the same. We’ll also look to bring in new products,” says Karen. The new business venture represents just one element of the Bennetts’ diversification strategy. The couple has also invested in eight investment properties off-farm, which helped them secure the Westpac Business Performance Award when they were named 2020 Southland-Otago Dairy Industry Awards Share Farmer of the Year. “This gives us flexibility - we may utilise them for passive income one day or use them to finance ourselves into a farm if we decide farm ownership is for them further down the track,” explains Karen. Since beginning their current sharemilking contract nearly two seasons ago milking 1,250 cows on a 500-hectare farm in Brydone, Southland, the Bennetts have focused on farm improvements including installing new lanes to ease cow movement across long distances. “We’ve really spent a lot of time on the farm to get it to where we want it to be and it’s humming,” says Karen. “Now we’re focusing on pasture and production and creating efficiencies around pasture utilisation, getting to know the farm and learning how grass grows in certain areas.” The couple continues to embrace agricultural innovation, with plans to implement Halter cow collars on the farm in May. Says Karen: “We are really excited to see how that technology goes.”
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