48 | A respected name among farmers Kelly Deeks Hunter Ag Services continues to go from strength to strength under the supportive leadership of Rebecca Hunter, following the sudden passing of her husband and co-founder Roger Hunter in 2023. The agricultural contracting business, based in the Pukehamoamoa district of Hastings, remains a respected name among sheep, beef, and dairy farmers across Hawke’s Bay, offering high-quality services in direct drilling, cultivation, and agricultural spraying. Rebecca, who was always involved behind the scenes handling administration, has now stepped fully into the leadership role. With a strong team around her, including a newly appointed operations manager who was actually Hunter Ag Services’ first employee over a decade ago, Hunter Ag Services is not only steadying the ship, but steering it forward with confidence. “It’s definitely been a journey,” Rebecca says. “We’ve had our share of challenges with staffing, but we’ve now got a solid crew. Our new operations manager knows our clients, understands the land, and is dedicated to what we do. It makes a real difference to have someone in that role who already understands how we work.” The team’s experience and focus on doing the job right continue to drive Hunter Ag Services forward. The business continues to invest in modern machinery and technology, including GPS systems and Tabula, to ensure precise and efficient operations across a wide service area. From the flat lands to some fairly adventurous hill country, the crew are well-equipped and well-trained for it all. Hunter Ag Services was built from the ground up by Roger and Rebecca, starting with a leased drill and tractor. Over the past 12 years, they’ve expanded the fleet to include Massey Ferguson tractors, multiple direct drills, roller drills, cultivators, and more. RURAL SERVICES » Hunter Ag Services Ltd Their agricultural spraying division, which started as a way to keep things in-house, now runs three trucks and a tractor-mounted spray unit, helping ensure timely and seamless service from spraying through to sowing. With her background in marketing, Rebecca never expected to be running an agricultural contracting business, but she has fully embraced the role, and admittedly very stubborn and competitive, she’s not giving up. She’s being driven by her love of cropping and seeing things grow. “I didn’t know how obsessed I’d become with cropping,” she says. “We grew sweetcorn this time around and I just love seeing our crops grow from Proud to support Hunter Ag Services Ltd Power Farming Hawkes Bay | 06 879 9998 OUR PLACE OR YOURS ON CALL 24/7 - HAWKES BAYS LARGEST RANGE OF TRACTOR TYRES! 9 DONNELLY ST. HAVELOCK NORTH www.havelocknorthtyres.co.nz | sales@havelocknorthtyres.co.nz PROUD TO SUPPORT HUNTER AG SERVICES LTD start to finish. The cropping block is my happy place. You get to see progress every day and I love it.” There’s a strong sense of continuity in the business too. Rebecca and Roger’s 14-year-old son Oscar has a keen interest in agriculture and machinery, and one of their young daughters has starting asking who is going to teach her to drive a tractor. “We’ve worked so hard to build this business, and Roger gave it everything he had,” she says. “Now it’s about continuing that legacy, growing smartly, and proving that we’ve got what it takes.” From a single drill to a trusted regional operation, Hunter Ag Services is a story of resilience, hard work, and a deep connection to the land, and it’s far from finished. The business continues to invest in modern machinery and technology. We’re here for the good of the country.
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