62 | Outstanding performance and clarity of planning Winning the 2026 Property Brokers Sheep and Beef Farm Business of the Year has given David and Rebecca Buick a chance to celebrate and reflect on how far they have come since a near fatal accident on farm in Pongaroa. The win was announced in February followed by a field day at their property in April. Based in the Manawatu-Whanganui district they own two farms, Taraora and Te Rau which are both 250 hectares. They run just over 2000 Turanganui Romney ewes, 300 Oxford ewes and 300 bulls. This is alongside a shearing business the couple also ran for 20 years until it sold this year. “It (the award) was always something we wanted to have a crack at so we›re pretty excited we achieved that goal,” David said. “The field day went really well, we had about 150 people come. We also had a great day which is absolutely amazing because you only get three days of those a year in Pongaroa.” The competition was another learning curve for the couple. “We decided we wanted to win the first time we applied. So we did go hard. “Rebecca did an amazing job creating power points for the presentations, she nailed it.” The process made them very thankful for the businesses and people that had helped them on their way. “We couldn’t have done it without them.” The judges noted the outstanding on-farm performance and the clarity of planning, resilience and leadership that drives their business. David said they have had great results from their crops including with Swedes and Chicory. “We were spending $30K on Nitrogen which wasn’t feasible so we looked at other options and Swedes were the winner for us. “Scanning in 2023, triplets were lambed on chicory with good results, weaning at 36kg each live weight.” The couple are extremely hard workers with the farms and shearing business. David is also a competitive shearer having represented New Zealand 25 times. Then in 2021 he had a life changing accident. “I was putting in new trenching and it fell in. Thirty tonnes of soil buried me up to my neck. It was slowly crushing me, it smashed my pelvis.” “Spending four months lying flat made me realise I need to slow down which is one of the reasons we sold the shearing business.” AWARDS » David and Rebecca Buick Emma Bailey Turanganui Romneys Guy Warren William Warren Mike Warren 027 446 5312or 06 307 7841 027 848 0164 027 824 9327 Proudly supporting David and Rebecca Buick Guy Strang For all your Livestock Needs Phone: 021 472 958 K I W I B O N E T O T H E www.a co.co.nz “There nothing like that to make you realise quickly what is important. We had been so focused on getting ahead and buying the next farm.” He was told that he would never work or shear again. “I have always loved farming; being out there breaking in horses and dogs but my body was buggered so I could only do paperwork and planning. “It was certainly good to get that push into governance, because when you know how your business is doing the stress goes.” Through determination he slowly built back up and was able to physically work again and in 2024 went to the New Zealand shearing champs. Their son Michael, 22 is also a shearer working over in Scotland while their daughter Gemma is in her last year at boarding school. “We decided we wanted to win the first time we applied. So we did go hard.” They run just over 2000 Turanganui Romney ewes, 300 Oxford ewes and 300 bulls.
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