84 | nzdairy Giving something back to the industry Richard Loader John and KristinaWyatt are dairy farming achievers, who are now giving back to the industry in their role as Taranaki Regional Managers for the 2023 Dairy Industry Awards. John first came to the industry’s attention after winning the 2009 Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Trainee of the Year, followed by the 2015 Manawatu Farm Manager of the Year. The winning form was continued when he and Kristina went on to win the 2021 Taranaki Sharefarmer of the Year award, completing the award trifecta. Kristina says after winning the Sharefarmer of the Year award, there is a natural progression to Team Leader for the regional Sharefarmer awards, and then the opportunity to take on the Taranaki Regional Managers role after that. “As Regional Managers we’re the ‘go-to’ people for everything that happens from the start right through until after the field day. We’re in charge of organising the events, and running all the monthly meetings.” In addition to giving something back to the industry, John says the role also ensured he and Kristina could continue being part of the industry awards, and helping people receive the same wonderful experience. “The awards don’t happen without the people making it happen, so we thought we would do our bit to keep the wheels turning. We’re also very fortunate to have a strong committee.” Kristina adds that through being regional managers, their own development has continued, learning about event management, how to communicate well with sponsors, and how to manage people in general. “We’re also in contact with those key people in the industry that inspire us, to be just like them. We’re having meetings with the judges, and they John and Kristina Wyatt. DAIRY PEOPLE » Wyatt & Perrett might bring something up that you had not previously thought about. You see the awards from another perspective, and you’re still learning from all these wonderful people and their years of experience.” Last June, John and Kristina took up their first 50/50 sharemilking role, on a 280-cow farm between Stratford and Eltham, just a few kilometres from where they had been contract milking. “John and I had been looking at ways we could invest into the industry. “Ongoing research & development results in superior products & performance advantages including; more yield, faster milking, no slip and no teat end damage.” At Lloyd Gernhoefer agricultural contracting, we o er you a wide range of Agricultural services. Call Lloyd now for your 2023 season requirements. 027 446 0443 19a King Edward St, Eltham o ce@gernhoefercontracting.co.nz Proud to support the Wyatt and Perrett Team Please give us a call for all your effluent pond pumping & irrigation needs (06) 765 6668 Effluent and Irrigation Services NEW PLYMOUTH 36 Eliot Street / 06 759 0105 ELTHAM 11 Stanners St / 06 764 8305 www.schurrireland.co.nz m ow rin y ur ea f t r E p e g o id l u u e. Schurr & Ireland are proud to support Wyatt and Perrett Through the dairy industry awards we got our name out there a bit and that sparked a bit of interest within the industry. We had a consultant, an accountant and a stock agent call us all on the same day just before Christmas, saying they had a 50/50 job and they thought it would be perfect for us.” At the time Kristina was heavily pregnant with the couple’s second child, Danielle, who was due in January. “It was a little bit crazy,” says Kristina. “We had to work out what was going to go into the contract and then do a budget to make sure it would work. We met the farm owners to ensure the fit would be right. We visited the farm, took a tour around it, and looked at the facilities.” A qualified vet by profession, Kristina was wanting to return to part time veterinary practice after giving birth to Danielle and so a one-man shed was a key requirement, and the couple didn’t have a lot of time to search for a herd. As it turned out, the couple were able to buy the cows already on the farm, and the farm owner bought the automatic cup removers from the previous 50/50 sharemilker and installed a Protrack drafting system, making the shed a one-man operation. Both passionate farmers living the life they have always wanted, John and Kristina say that the opportunity to raise their young children, Caleb and Danielle, on a farm where they can learn so learn so many valuable life skills is another strong draw card to living life on the land.
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