| 33 Good young people ‘NZ’s best genetics’ Richard Loader Todd Bolton’s parents always encouraged him to be a teacher, but instead he became a farmer – a decision that has proven to be inspired. The parental encouragement was about Todd’s passion for looking after young people and guiding them to be the best they can be; something that he brings to his role as farm manager at Managamingi Station, a Pamu farm in Reporoa in the Central Plateau. “Coaching and developing people is something that I’m quite passionate about,” says Todd. “I’ve always been interested in coaching, and I don’t like to see young people struggle. My focus has always been on development, rather than giving someone a list of jobs to go away and do. I would rather engage them in the process and make them think. That way they learn more.” Todd says with an aging population of farm managers throughout the country, good young people are needed. They are, he says, New Zealand’s best genetics. “We need to bring these people through to take over. They have to learn the rules, think about the environment in their daily world and also people’s safety – things that didn’t have such a high emphasis a generation or two ago. “Over the past four years Jason Forrest, Mangamingi’s stock manager and I have combined our abilities, working together to develop the younger shepherds and further their careers in agriculture. This has been a really rewarding experience. We’ve done well with the young people we have here. Dylan came out of school, he’s been here two-and-half-years and he is brilliant. He will go on to be a farm manager.” Things are not always so successful though. When Todd and Jason were asked by the local authorities to help a couple of troubled youths, they jumped at the opportunity to show them life on the farm. “I had them on the farm here and spent some time with them to try and get them back on track. In the end it wasn’t successful, but we had a go, and that was the main thing.” Pamu operates several training programmes for its young shepherds which includes feed budgeting and because many of the young shepherds live alone personal health and looking after yourself is taught. Skills like fencing are also taught with professionals brought in to teach the basics. “Pamu is a big organization, and the programmes provide a great opportunity for these RURAL PEOPLE » Mangamingi Station young shepherds to connect with each, create friendships and an insight into what the other farms in the Pamu family are like — especially for future career opportunities.” Encompassing 3,600 hectares, Mangamingi Station’s altitude rises 600 to 800 metres above sea level. Of its total area size, only 1,550 hectares is in grass, with 1,480 hectares in plantation forest, which is now in its second rotation. Surrounded by low lying dairy properties Mangamingi Station is a sheep and beef farm and home to over 5,000 breeding ewes and 600 Angus cows, plus all replacements. Depending on the season, 240 Angus steers will also be finished. “We need to bring these people through to take over. They have to learn the rules, think about the environment in their daily world and also people’s safety – things that didn’t have such a high emphasis a generation or two ago.” Pat Lacy Livestock Ltd Pat Lacy 027 495 35 64 nyanza@xtra.co.nz . . Buyer and seller of store stock & fat stock Sheep, Cattle & Deer ll , l Proudly supporting Mangamingi Station “The continuous dry summers in Reporoa has made lamb finishing too challenging for us and so other than 1,800 replacement hoggets, all our lambs are sold store during December and January mostly within Pamu’s finishing farms. This enables us to focus on our capital ewes.” A sheep and beef farm, Mangamingi station encompasses 3600ha, with 1550ha in grass and 1480ha in plantation forest. Manager Todd Bolton and family wife Jacqui and children Holly and Finn.
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