| 53 nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Hanze Farms: Scott & Larissa Anderson Early sacri ces prove worth it for family Richard Loader Waikato farmers Scott and Larissa Anderson are fencing and planting gullies on their farm with native trees and axes. Waikato farmers Scott and Larissa Anderson have spent the last several years fencing and planting gullies on their farm with thousands of native trees and axes. Nestling the small rural community of Ngakuru, 20 minutes south of Rotorua, the Anderson’s 105-hectare milking platform is home to 400 cows, milked under a split calving regime. Past winners of the Central Plateau/Bay of Plenty Dairy Business of the Year which recognised their business direction, dedication and hard work, Scott and Larissa have worked hard giving back what the nature’s violence ripped away at the dawn of time, when ood waters rushed through their land, scarring it forever. Always looking for the next challenge, with the environmental labour of love all but completed on their milking platform, Scott and Larissa are about to start their next environmental campaign on their leased run-off in Horohoro, in partnership with Environment Waikato. “A stream runs through the front of the property, which Environment Waikato wants to protect,” says Scott. “They came to me with a very good proposal. They will plant 5000 trees and axes and we have the responsibility of looking after them. I’m currently fencing the area off, getting it all ready for planting. I’ve previously had temporary fencing around the waterways to keep stock out but we’re now taking it to the next level and extending the line. Both sides of about 300 metres of waterway will be planted up June/July.” Re ecting on the farming journey that he has shared with Larissa, Scott says to be a dairy farmer you have to enjoy being the maker of your own destiny. “We’re probably at the tail end of our farming career. Would I do it all over again; yes in a heartbeat. It’s hard work and earlier on we made a lot of sacri ces to reap the bene ts of our hard work, and the kids made sacri ces too. “This farm has been seven days a week all year round. A lot of the kid’s friends would be off on family holidays, off to the beach, and our kids had to watch them drive passed. We couldn’t do anything else. “That’s the industry and you’re probably young enough and passionate enough to do it all yourself and not worry too much about staff. But, before you know it your kids are another year older and you’re still chipping away doing it yourself. By the time you have got into a position where you can afford staff, your kids have almost left home.” With all the effort that has gone into the farm, Scott says the icing on the cake is that the children have all indicated they would like to come back and have a go at farming at some stage. “For Larissa and me that’s a pretty cool thing. They will be a third generation dairy farming in New Zealand. My dad was farming and we have carried on the legacy. “ Whether it works out for our children, that’s up to them. They know what it’s all about, they know the trials and tribulations that we’ve been through – they have been with us on the journey.” “We’re probably at the tail end of our farming career. Would I do it all over again; yes in a heartbeat. It’s hard work and earlier on we made a lot of sacri ces to reap the bene ts of our hard work, and the kids made sacri ces too. This farm has been seven days a week all year round. A lot of the kid’s friends would be off on family holidays, off to the beach, and our kids had to watch them drive passed. We couldn’t do anything else.” WE AREMORE THAN JUSTMILKING SPECIALISTS with 24/7 Service Feel free to call in, visit our shop and discuss any requirements you have in regards to your dairy shed. DeLaval Service and Support milking solutions Ph 07 348 3628 19 White Street, Rotorua www.abcmilkingsolutions.co.nz Milking Machines Dairy Consumables Machine Tests Davey Supplier Trenching DeLaval InService (Preventative Maintenance) McConnel Backing Gates Water Pumps & Fittings E uent Systems Bore Lifts Irrigation Services Reid & Harrison
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