28 | nzdairy Innovative couple impress judges Share Farmers of the Year for Central Plateau Region, Nicole and Kevin Oppert with children Kaleb and Katlin. A young innovative Waikato couple, striving to get ahead in the farming game, impressed judges at the 2023 Dairy Awards. Kevin, 31,and Nicole Oppert, 30, won Share Farmers of the Year for Central Plateau Region. It’s the couple’s second season contract milking for Roger and Amanda Garland on Montana in Taupo. After living in Saudi Arabia as a youngster, Kevin returned to Aotearoa in 2007, and went to Cambridge St Peters school where he first met a teenage Nicole, before they became a couple in 2012. Nicole had tried hairdressing, retail and even two years as an extra on Shortland Street, but she says nothing was really fitting for her. “So I picked up the phone and asked Dad if could come and work for him. Then Kevin worked for Dad as a 2IC for three years, then managing for a year, and contract milking for the last six years. “On the 170ha effective, there’s 560 cows, 80% Friesian and 20% crossbreeds, and we rear all the calves – 543 of them last year. We put excess bulls on the other four dry stock farms. The all-rounders achieved merit for Financial and Business, LIC Animal Productivity, Health and Safety, Biosecurity, and Environmental Sustainability. “We have a strict hygiene system, and take pride in our animals. We’re very aware of public perception, as our farm is a ‘fish bowl’ with three roadside frontages. We get lots of comments about the cows’ Tracey Edwardes DAIRY AWARDS » Kevin & Nicole Oppert and calves’ good condition. We take pride in the land and keep the roadside front mowed.” Nicole takes care of the bookkeeping, does the calving, and as the floater fills in between Kevin and two full time staff. “We have real passion for the industry. Our next goal is share-milking with our own cows and equity partnership where we are now,” she says. “I believe in immersing our children into the farm weekends and after school. It builds a strong work ethic. Kaleb, who’s 6, loves the farm motorbike and our four-year-old Katlin helps with the calves, she’s a wee superstar!” Kevin sites their latest biggest challenge as both drought and extreme wet weather. “Because the water content is too high,the grass is green, but there’s no energy in it,”he says. “We’ve still achieved 502 milk solids per cow, and are so proud of the turnaround when we haven’t even gone into genetics. The farm’s policy is all-natural mating. When we own our own cows we’ll look into it though. “Our great boss Insists cows are fully fed all year, which helps us both financially and mentally knowing they’re well looked after. We’ve got in-shed feeding, and feed all season. “Our biggest reward is the cows and growing our business by improving each year,and not standing still. I’ll be talking to Roger about introducing plantain, which is high in ME for a small plant. Good in droughts, it has a bigger taproot. “It’s rewarding for us as young people in the industry, but hard to find staff as driven as we were. We’re passionate and driven enough so we can adapt quickly to anything that’s thrown at us, like government and overseas markets. “Also, it’s important to put yourself out there and network.” Proud to support Kevin and Nicole Oppert on their farming journey Need support on yours? Give us a call for a free consultation on howwe could help you. 44 Te Heuheu Street Taupo | 07 376 1700 info@strettons.co.nz | facebook.com/strettons
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