14 | DAIRY » Mosa Farms Award recognises special employers Mosa Farms Stefan and Annalize Du Plessis with their Small Business Recognition Award. The couple employ six full-time staff, across two dairy units. Richard Loader Stefan and Annalize Du Plessis made the journey from South Africa to New Zealand twenty-one years ago expressly to follow their dream of becoming dairy farmers. This year, the couple, who for the past eight years have been 50/50 sharemilkers on Owen and Margaret Westlake 700 cow farm in Dipton, attended the gala function at the Beehive to be announced winners of the Small Business Recognition Award at MPI’s Primary Industries Good Employer Awards. The Good Employer awards celebrate the food and fibre sector, and included in its objectives the awards highlight good employers and good employment practices across all primary industries. Annalize says attending the award night was a wonderful opportunity to meet so many other like-minded people. “There were so many different businesses represented. The variety of industries that got together on the night was really fantastic. We got to meet those people and learn how they work with their staff. There were big businesses with many more employees than us.” Both humble and proud to receive the award, Annalize says she doesn’t know if they do much different than other farmers, but just do the best they can on their property and with their people. “Receiving the award was very special. It was a real morale boost and reassurance that we run a good, profitable business that not only looks after animals and the finances, but also the most important part of the business, our employees. “We have said it many times, without them we can’t do what we do. The big thing for Stefan and me is that we’re always remembering that we started dairy farming in New Zealand as farm assistants. So, we know what our staff are going through and what they’re feeling. Stefan always says, we’re not here just to train people, we’re here to train farmers. We teach our people everything – not just milking cows. It’s not just investing money in someone. It’s actually investing in the person themselves.” Very community minded, the couple encourage their team members to get involved in the local community, whether that is through sport or something else. “We’ve been involved in our Dipton community for many years now, so to us it’s important that our staff get involved and make a life here by mixing with people. We also focus on having regular get-togethers and catchups to keep their brains off just farming.” Operating under Mosa Farms, Stefan and Annalize employ six full-time staff, across two dairy units, along with two ladies who work on a casual basis, and whose partners are part of the full-time team. “The ladies do calf rearing, help the men when it’s a tough day, and provide relief milking. Our ladies have learned to become very supportive of our boys on the farm.” In addition to their 50/50 sharemilking contract, the couple also contract milk on another farm a few kilometres away across the river, that is also owned by the Westlakes. “We have three daughters and they have always been involved in the farm from little. For us farming is a family environment. We can take our kids out to the farm, or we can go to the river and have a BBQ with everyone or a picnic in the paddock. We are just used to nature and being outside.” “We have said it many times, without them we can’t do what we do. The big thing for Stefan and me is that we’re always remembering that we started dairy farming in New Zealand as farm assistants. So, we know what our staff are going through and what they’re feeling. Stefan always says, we’re not here just to train people, we’re here to train farmers. We teach our people everything – not just milking cows. It’s not just investing money in someone. It’s actually investing in the person themselves.” VETSOUTH ARE PROUD TOWORK ALONGSIDE MOSA FARMS BALCLUTHA | GORE | WINTON | INVERCARGILL | LUMSDEN | OTAUTAU | CLYDEVALE | TAPANUI 0800 VETSOUTH | vetsouth.co.nz At McCulloch + Partners we are a local business run by local people. We pride ourselves on being friendly, accessible and experienced accounting specialists no matter the industry you’re in. p: 03 218 6179 e: james.harvey@mcp.co.nz w: www.mcp.co.nz James Harvey Partner Proud to support Mosa Farms Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors Contact us to take advantage of our modern approach to accounting and business expertise For all your Pit Silage and Baling Requirements We have you covered 35Winton, Lorneville Highway Winton Phone: 027 263 5532 Proud to support Mosa Farming
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