6 | RURAL PEOPLE » Beef + Lamb East Coast: Patrick Crawshaw Shaping the industry at the front end Charlotte Crawshaw lends a hand feeding out at Te Hau Station. Richard Loader Recently elected to the board of Beef + Lamb New Zealand as the Eastern North Island farmer director, Hawke’s Bay’s Patrick Crawshaw’s passion for farming has evolved to wanting to be part of making New Zealand’s agricultural industry successful. “Being able to give back to the industry that has given me so much, and help take it to a higher level is where I’m focused. I embrace the challenge of having greater influence and trying to be part of moving through change while shaping what that change looks like. “I had completed some training with the Rabobank Executive Development programme and when the term for our previous Beef + Lamb representative came to an end I saw the opportunity to throw my name into the ring.” Reflecting on leadership and leadership style, Patrick observes there are leaders everywhere; some lead from within, some lead from the top, and others will lead without even knowing it. “I just go about my work and make an impact, without placing too much importance around it. Eventually that takes you to where you want to go and gives you the influence you want to have. “I’m thirty, and at the front-end of my farming career, with a lot of my career in the industry still to come. If I can be part of shaping the industry at the front end, and supporting the next generation of farmers, I feel that is a really cool opportunity.” Five years ago, Patrick and his wife Isabelle bought Te Hau Station, a 250-hectare effective sheep and beef property in Patoka, fifty minutes west of Hastings. This year, the farm will finish 2600 lambs and 300 cattle, with the majority of lambs and cattle bought store. There is also a small commercial Angus herd that is part of the Informing New Zealand Beef programme, a future focused seven-year programme (2021–2027) run by Beef + Lamb Genetics designed to generate more income for beef producers and the economy while protecting the environment. Patrick grew up on a family farm, Kenhardt Angus in Nuhaka, northern Hawke’s Bay, and attributes his passion for livestock and the land to his early life and the opportunities provided by his parents. “Mum and dad encouraged us into a lot of youth industry events. When you are living and breathing it as a youngster it becomes quite infatuating. I attended Lincoln University and obtained a Bachelor of Commerce Agriculture degree, majoring in Farm Management.” Adding to what has been a very big year for the Crawshaws, Patrick was crowned the East Coast Young Farmer of the Year in March, and later placed fourth in the Grand Final held in Timaru. This June the Crawshaws decided the time was right to engage a full time Block Manager to ensure Patrick could give the Beef + Lamb role the justice that it deserves, particularly given the damage caused by the cyclone, and employed Tayla Brady. “We have Beef + Lamb, and NZ Meat board meetings every six weeks, so you get pulled away from the farm for two of three days. And then there are other industry events that I attend. “I’m challenged with what my full time equivalent on the farm is, so we employed Tayla to keep the farm wheels turning. “She’s in charge of the day-to-day farm operation. I set out the strategy and the tactics, which Tayla executes. When I’m back on farm Tayla will tell me what needs doing.” While Isabelle has a busy off-farm job, she contributes to farm business planning, strategy, values and goal setting. The Crawshaw’s also have two young daughters, Millie 1 and Charlotte 3. Our Farming Growth rural division is all about supporting rural businesses. We understand farming, the challenges and what it takes to succeed. 06 876 8124 info@pkfcs.co.nz pkfcs.co.nz Rural Accounting Specialists PKF and the Farming Growth team are proud to support Beef & Lamb - East Coast 16TH ANNUAL ON FARM RAM SALE 110 South Suffolks approx and 50 Poll Dorsets up for Auction Thursday 30th November Time: 1.00pm. Viewing from 11.00 onwards 1529 Ngapaeruru Road, RD3 Dannevirke • Eye muscle scanned • SIL Recorded • All Sires are DNA foot scored Over 50 years of breeding Callum Stewart – 027 280 2688 Tom Suttor – 027 446 9967 Bjorn Andersen – 027 440 5888 Simon Prouting 027 8058501 | prouting@inspire.net.nz Genetics “I’m thirty, and at the front-end of my farming career, with a lot of my career in the industry still to come. If I can be part of shaping the industry at the front end, and supporting the next generation of farmers, I feel that is a really cool opportunity.”
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