24 | Horsing around on farm Heather’s passion Heather Gee-Taylor mustering in the mud. Karen Phelps Ambitious young farmer from ManawatuRangitikei, 26-year-old Heather Gee-Taylor, continues to expand her business with her recent purchase of a farm alongside her father Mike. The dynamic duo has not only increased their land holdings but has also ventured into new agricultural enterprises. A year ago Heather began her farming business in earnest by leasing 172 hectares of the 560ha family home farm, Glencorran. She has already doubled her land area to an impressive 360 hectares. The property is supplemented by a secondary finishing farm just a few kilometres away, adding another 110 hectares to their operation. The latest addition to their farming empire is Tawai Farm, a 300-hectare property located 3kms from Glencorran. Heather and Mike are joint owners of this farm, with Heather holding a one-third share. Tawai Farm serves as a dairy support block, focusing on sheep and beef farming. Currently it supports 800 ewes, 400 hoggets, 50 breeding cows, and 22 weaner heifers. During the winter months the farm also accommodates around 500 to 600 dairy cows for grazing. Recognizing the need for extensive fencing work on Tawai Farm, Heather and Mike decided to start a fencing contracting business under the same name. It made sense when they needed to invest in significant plant to take on outside work as well. Currently employing two full-time fencers, they have successfully completed 3kms of fencing on Tawai Farm in just 12 months. Additionally, they have set aside 28 hectares of land for manuka honey production, fencing off waterways and planting manuka trees, adding another dimension to their farming practices. Apart from their agricultural pursuits, Heather and Mike have taken it upon themselves to uplift and educate the younger generation in the industry. They have welcomed Lana Shuker, a 17-year-old Growing Future Farmers cadet, onto Tawai Farm, providing her with valuable training and mentorship. “I’d like at the end of the two years to be contributing a capable employee to the sector. That’s important to me because of the labour shortage in the industry,” says Heather. In terms of livestock, Heather’s portion of the Glencorran farm boasts 1,200 ewes, 400 hoggets, 750 trade lambs for winter grazing, 70 breeding cows, and 25 weaner heifers. She has recently transitioned to raising Romdale ewes and there are plans to do the same on the other two properties. “They are stronger and survivability is good. They do better in hard times,” explains Heather. Mike manages 850 ewes, 400 hoggets, 50 weaning heifers, and plans to winter around 650 trade lambs at Glencorran. He also maintains a satellite stud herd of 120 Angus cattle, selling the bull calves RURAL PEOPLE » Heather Gee-Taylor “We farm for a lifestyle, that’s why we do it, so obviously I don’t want to retire when I’m 40. The aim is to minimise debt and create more time for activities I enjoy, such as horse-related pursuits, while reducing less desirable tasks like shifting break fences in the winter.” back to Merchiston Angus at weaning time. Heather takes charge of running the farm operations, while Mike primarily manages the fencing business and repairs. Heather’s dedication to the agricultural industry extends beyond her farming endeavours. She is an active member of various organisations and councils, seeking to positively influence legislation and governance related to the sector. Heather recently became the Meat and Wool Representative for the Manawatu-Rangitikei Branch of Federated Farmers, leveraging her grassroots experiences to bring about meaningful change. Additionally, she holds a position on the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Farmer Council for the Western North Island. “I wanted a governance role that was relevant to what I was doing on farm. It represents what I do at a grass roots level every day,” says Heather. Notably, Heather has been involved in governance roles in her community for several years. FERTILISER, LIVESTOCK, GENERAL CARRIERS, WOOL P: 06 382 5828 F: 06 382 5824 M: 021 741 463 | 027 222 3431 E: dispatch@raycoles.co.nz accounts@raycoles.co.nz A: PO Box 21, Mangaweka 4746 P 06 323 0255 M 027 928 8630 W farmworxbikes.co.nz • On Farm Service • New and Used Sales • Fully Equipped Workshop She served on the regional executive of Federated Farmers for two years while also being elected as the youngest council member of the Manawatu District at the age of 22. She has also dedicated four years to the Nga Tawa Diocesan School board, demonstrating her commitment to giving back to her the school she says gave her so much. Despite her busy schedule, Heather finds time to pursue her passions outside of farming. She continues to train dogs and participates in dog trialling during the season. Additionally, she enjoys breaking in horses and breeding horses for show jumping and hunting purposes. With 25 horses currently in her care, Heather has turned her hobby into an income-generating venture. Looking ahead, Heather envisions further expanding her land holdings in the next five to ten years. Her ultimate goal is to achieve financial freedom while maintaining a fulfilling lifestyle. “We farm for a lifestyle, that’s why we do it, so obviously I don’t want to retire when I’m 40. The aim is to minimise debt and create more time for activities I enjoy, such as horse-related pursuits, while reducing less desirable tasks like shifting break fences in the winter.”
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