48 | Quality fencing that stands the test of time Barbed wire is often used in the high-country where there is no power. Dan and mate Jake Scott took out first place in the doubles competition at last year’s South Island Fencing Competition finals. Richard Loader RURAL SERVICES » Dan Douglass Fencing Dan Douglass loves spending the day building a fence on a high-country farm, and at the end of the day looking back on it and seeing what has been accomplished knowing that a quality job has been done, and the fence will still be there in forty to fifty years’ time. That’s a legacy to be proud of. Growing up on his parents’ farm just south of Timaru, Dan always enjoyed fencing and twelve years ago took the opportunity to be his own boss, establishing Dan Douglass Fencing. “I recognised there was a need for another fencing contractor in the district, so bought a tractor and post driver and got into it. I was doing a bit of casual farm work on other farms and got a couple of decent fencing jobs from that, and just worked up from there.” As word-of-mouth spread, more fencing jobs came up, and Dan now operates three tractors, three post drivers, and employs two permanent staff, along with casual labour as required. “Everyone who works for me is from the rural sector, and has grown up with fencing, so we know what it’s about.” Based in Otipua, not far from the family farm, Dan Douglass Fencing operates mostly in South Canterbury, but also in North Otago, Mackenzie Country, and right through to North Canterbury. “We will go anywhere depending on the job. We currently have a big job in North Canterbury and where we’re doing a full deer re-fencing job. Eighty-five per cent of our work is farm work, with ten percent lifestylers, with the remaining five per cent residential and security fencing for existing rural customers. We also build the occasional shed.” Dairy forms a large part of the fencing, and typically involves two electric wires, or pivot irrigation crossing work, undertaking all work including underground cables and powering everything up. Most sheep, beef and cropping fence work is netting with a hotwire on top. Barbed wire is often used in the high-country where there is no power. The team also builds a lot of cattle and sheep yards. “We will do a lot of jobs from start to finish where we organise a contractor to put tracks in for fences on steep country, or the foundations for yards, or we can hire a dozer and digger and do it ourselves. For lifestyle properties we remove whatever fence needs to be replaced, and mostly replace it with sheep netting with a hotwire on top, or post and four rails. “For most jobs we supply all materials and install it, including the electric mains unit, posts, and gates.” Last year, Dan and his mate Jake Scott took first place at the South Island Fencing Competition Finals, held at the Kirwee Field Days. “We had to build a five-wire electric fence,” says Dan. “This was a great chance to showcase our skills.” Looking back at the growth of the business that he shares with his wife Georgia, Dan says success has been about a hard day’s work and competitive pricing. “You have to be competitive, but you always have to do a good job. The quality of the job is remembered before how sharp the pencil was.” “You have to be competitive, but you always have to do a good job. The quality of the job is remembered before how sharp the pencil was.” 0800 4posts (0800 476 787) www.greatsouthern.net.nz GROUP No1 FOR POSTS AND TIMBER Suppliers of : Posts • Poles • Piles • Farm Buildings Small Buildings • Dog Motels Concrete Troughs • Bulding Supplies Wooden Gates • Fencing Supplies
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