| 25 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Cameron & Cassandra Spencer Cam Spencer with daughter Sienna. Marlborough move a fresh challenge Rosa Watson Award winning Southland sharemilkers Cameron and Cassandra Spencer have grabbed at an opportunity to move to Marlborough and grow their successful dairy farming career. The couple have been 50:50 sharemilking on a on a 141ha, 420-cow New Zealand Rural Property Trust (NZRPT) farm near Otautau in Southland. They were runners up in the Share Farmer of the Year category of the 2020 Southland-Otago Dairy Industry Awards, and received merit awards for pasture performance, along with recording and productivity. Not a bad effort for first-time entrants. However, the farm went on the market last year when the NZRPT decided to sell it, being one of their smaller properties. “It’s definitely been one of the toughest years finding a 50/50 sharemilking position, with a shortage of opportunities out there.” But then they struck gold when they came across the Marlborough job. With the farm located just eight minutes from Havelock, they are basically dairy farming on the doorstep of the spectacular Marlborough Sounds. Increasing their herd size from 400 to 655 cows, it’s a great opportunity for the couple to upscale and take on this exciting challenge in their career. With a straight 50:50 contract, Cam and Cassy are excited to work alongside the new shareholders at Dalton Downs. This industry is all about the people, so to find these shareholders that align with our values and share our passion with our vision and purpose we see great potential for a long-term relationship and growing the business together. Cassandra added: “As well as a great business opportunity it also is a fantastic move for us personally with the location and activities in the area for our family.” So, on July 1, the couple and their three daughters, Mackenzie, 7, Sienna, 4, and Kaylee, 1, will move their herd from their farm in Southland to the new farm in Marlborough, which will require “more than a few truck loads”. Cassandra, who runs group fit and boxing fitness classes from their Southland home, is hoping to create a similar business at their new location once they’re settled, which will be a great chance to engage in the local community in Havelock and surrounding area. Cam first got a taste for dairy farming while at school and has never looked back. In the holidays, he’d stay with grandparents in Taranaki and help them out on their jersey cow dairy farm of 90 cows. After leaving school, he gained experience on his cousin’s farm in Te Kuiti before moving onto farms in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Another opportunity then led him to Southland, where he met Cassandra. Cam and Cassandra said the NZRPT, which owns seven dairy farms, has been fantastic to work with for the past five seasons. “We can’t speak highly enough of Brian Borough and the team at NZRPT”, Cam said. “The communication, friendship and passion has been above and beyond. BALEAGE &STRAWBALING • EFFLUENT SPREADING&UMBILICAL SLURRY SYSTEM • FERTILISER SPREADINGVIAONE SYSTEM • BULKY CULTIVATION • DIRECTDRILLING&PRECISIONPLANTING SERVICES • PASTURE RENOVATIONS • DIGGERWORK • NO JOB TOOBIGOR SMALL For all your Baleage&Straw requirements call 027 232 8203 for a no-obligation quote • Rural Carriers • Fertiliser sowing • Stock cartage • Wood chip supplies & cartage • Wood chipping done on farm, Turning your unwanted trees into chips. Contact: Pamela Callahan Maranui Valley, RD1, Tokanui Ph 03 246 8494 M 027 246 8494 | office@callahantransport.co.nz 011725s0342 CALLAHAN TRANSPORT LIMITED “We are sad to be leaving, but it was time for new challenges, and we are looking forward to the impending move.
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