| 9 Marlon looking toward a sharemilking future Marlon manages the 200ha Yellow Farm dairy unit. Anne Boswell In the heart of Otautau, Southland, Westfield Farm’s Yellow Farm is home to 600 dairy cows and a compelling story of determination and progress. At the helm of the Yellow Farm is contract milker Marlon Mateo Gabriel, whose journey from the Philippines to New Zealand has been marked by ambition, hard work and a commitment to excellence in dairy farming. Marlon and his wife Eva made the life-changing decision to emigrate to New Zealand from the Philippines in 2004, driven by the desire to build a better life for their family. However, the transition was not without its challenges. “The Philippines is very hot, and coming to the South Island we found it very cold,” Marlon says. “We have found the weather challenging.” Despite the cultural and climatic challenges Marlon began his career as a farm assistant, learning the ropes of New Zealand’s dairy farming industry. Over the years he has climbed the ranks to become a contract milker - a significant achievement in any dairy farmer’s career. Today, Marlon manages the 200ha Yellow Farm DAIRY PEOPLE » Marlon Mateo Gabriel - Grant Dickson Complete Silage, Baling, Cultivation, Effluent, Spraying & Excavator Contracting Service Phone: 03 225 8488 Rabco Ag Ltd E-mail: admin@rabco.nz Web: www.rabbitt.co.nz CONTACT Craig Plunkett 027 748 4421 | broadviewfarming@gmail.com WE OFFER FULL BALEAGE AND CULTIVATION SERVICES: Double Mowers Mchale Fusion 3 plus 5 furrow overum plough 6m leveller and roller drill Proudly Supporting Marlon Mateo Gabriel - Grant Dickson BALING & AG dairy unit, converted from sheep farming in 1996. The farm is part of Westfield Farms, a collection of four colour-coded dairy units owned by Grant and Janene Dickson. With two staff members and the support of his wife and three children, Marlon has created a close-knit, efficient team focused on continuous improvement. With a strong focus on performance, Marlon is currently aiming to increase the herd’s 430kgMS/ cow production output to 450kgMS/cow. This goal reflects his future-focused mindset as the farm gears up for a busy season, with calving scheduled to begin at the end of August. Marlon describes his dairy farming journey thus far as “interesting,” reflecting a period of intense learning and resilience as he and his family have settled and made a successful home and career here in New Zealand. His contribution, and that of other Filipino workers, has not gone unnoticed: Westfield Farms owner Grant Dickson commends Marlon and his fellow countrymen for their invaluable input. “It is great that Filipino workers are being recognised for the hard work they contribute to the New Zealand dairy industry,” Grant says. Now in their fifth year at Yellow Farm, Marlon and Eva are looking toward the future with the hope of becoming sharemilkers. It’s the natural next step for a couple whose journey has been built on steady progress and hard work. Westfield Farms, with its supportive environment and clear vision, has provided fertile ground for Marlon’s professional growth. As the new season unfolds and production goals are pursued, Marlon’s steady leadership and aspiration for further career growth will no doubt play a central role in the farm’s success - and in his family’s continued contribution to New Zealand’s dairy industry.
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