| 9 nzdairy DAIRY AWARDS » Daniel Bernard and Jess Matthews: Rosemount Dairy Jess Matthews gets some family help feeding the calves. Taranaki Share Farmers of the Year, Jess and Daniel with family. Decision to enter awards pays off Sue Russell Jess Matthews and Daniel Barnard are currently lower-order sharemilkers on The Dickies 500ha, 1600 cow farm near Waverley. In the three seasons they have been on the farm Daniel says this is easily the driest, resulting in being a little behind production, however overall he’s pleased with how the farm is operating and looking. On June 1st Jess and Daniel, and their three children, will be making another shift, a further step towards their goal of eventual farm ownership, a 50:50 sharemilking position in Pahiatua. Once there, they will be responsible for their herd of 400 cows. Jess and Daniel employ nine staff on their current farm, and one will be moving with them. “This is a good time for us to move, as Archie, our eldest is six years old and so he will have plenty of time at his new school to settle and make friends,” Daniel says. While progressing along their dairying business journey, the couple bought residential investment properties with their equity in these providing the means to purchase their herd. Jess and Daniel are obviously doing many things right, with taking out the top award in the Taranaki Share Farmer of the Year award earlier in March. Asked what prompted their decision to enter Daniel says it was through friends of their’s who had previously entered and found the experience well worthwhile. “We just wanted to put ourselves in front of really good judges to benchmark our farming business and also to get feedback. It was about looking at our business in a really objective way,” Daniel explains. Creating a document that encapsulated their strengths and weaknesses was a really valuable process, guiding future decisions and supporting the pathway forward. “Just learning about cashflow into equity and equity into cows as strong stepping-stones toward farm ownership was very good for us.” The regional awards were held in Hawera on March 2nd. After initial round judging, a selection of the top five competitors go through a further judging process, then on the night the announcement is made. Along with being named Share Farmers of the Year Taranaki, the couple also received a Merit Award from Dairy NZ for ‘People and Culture’. Prizes were tuned to be really practical in nature, including tyres, a visit to a professional accounting firm, along with another company specialising in Health & Safety. Jess says they are really excited about representing their region in the national event to be held at Coronet Peak, Queenstown. “It will be a fabulous four days of experiences and meeting other regional winners.” The couple really believe that dairying is an amazing industry to be involved with. “There’s no doubt its hard work; not a glamorous job but the rewards really pay off. If you can maintain a good reputation and take learnings on board, then the skies the limit,” Daniel explains. Jess adds, saying that a huge turning point for them was in setting goals, taking their long-term dream of farm ownership to someone who could break the necessary strategic steps down into achievable goals. Seizing the opportunity to be in the ‘Coach Approach Rural’ programme run by McIntyre Dick & Partners in Invercargill was very worthwhile. Other key people who have really helped them are Leigh Eggink, their bank manager and Sarah Hopkins, Accountant. Chris Morris, from Wairarapa Property Consultants has been instrumental in helping the couple work on their future planning, goals and visions for the business. “The great thing about Chris is that he gives you the space to look at ‘big sky ideas’, as part of the exercise toward grounding your strategic plans.” Their new 400 cow herd will be pretty-much straight Friesian. Jess and Daniel found the sharemilking position on Fence Post, with the property extending over 140ha of milking platform with a further 100ha of dry-stock. Jess and Daniel are looking forward to what they can achieve over the coming years taking measured carefully thought through steps along the way. Wairarapa’s leading property and farm business consultants PEOPLE • PROPERTY • BUSINESS p. 06 378 6672 m. 027 495 6127 e. office@wpcltd.co.nz 28 Perry Street Masterton 5840 Chris Morris www.taranaki-vets.co.nz Clinics - Stratford · · Manaia Hawera Patea · · Waverley Proud to be sponsors of Rosemount Dairy Ltd
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