52 | While Chris runs the two dairy units within Shalimar, Anson looks after the sharemilking operations, which has now grown to 750 cows. Piopio’s terrain varies from fertile river ats to steep, rugged hills, with beautiful rolling countryside in between. RURAL PEOPLE » Clapcott Dairy Enterprises Included in the team is Chris and Sarah’s son Douglas who has responsibility for managing the 540-cow farm. As well as Kiwis, staff come from different corners of the globe including Great Britain and France. “The staff are massively important to our operations,” says Chris. “Without a good crew we could not operate the way we do or as successfully.” Apart from a few years travelling overseas as a young man, Chris’s life has been farming, and it is something that he is passionate about, saying that it has been a great way to raise their children. “Piopio is also a great community and a great place in the country. We have our vets, a transport company, Wrightsons, the Honda dealership, a couple of superettes, a very good café, and the rugby club. It doesn’t matter whether you are a shearer, dairy farmer, drystock farmer or any other local business, it’s just a good community to be part of, and that’s all about the people who are pretty down to earth country people. It was also a great community in Otorohanga when we lived there.” Chris also enjoys seeing the achievements on farm, and improving the quality of the farm. “There’s been quite a bit of development on the farms. Development has changed from what it used to be, though. There used to be a lot of drainage and that type of thing. Now it’s more about planting off areas and retiring areas not suitable for farming.” Piopio’s terrain varies from fertile river ats to steep, rugged hills, with beautiful rolling countryside in between. Historically, the Waitomo District has been more • from page 51 • to page 53 Meat work processing plants www.actionelectrical.co.nz • Livestock Cartage • Forestry & Logging STEVEN & DONNA PARI 027 554 6064 parilivestock@gmail.com 85 Mangaotaki Road, Piopio • Metal & Fertiliser • Rural FarmSupplies
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