98 | nzdairy Pioneering family recognised at awards Aimee Wilson Tomalin Farms in Putaruru was one of 40 New Zealand farms recognised by New Zealand Century Farm and Station awards at its annual event in Lawrence in mid-May. Guest speaker Mark Patterson MP presented the awards, as both a local farmer and a committee member, sharing his insights of the primary sector industry. Acknowledged for their hard work and perseverance on the land for 100 years or more, the pioneering families contributed to their regions, towns and communities, in many different ways. Narratives of the families farming history, together with copies of related photographs and supporting documents will be archived at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, ensuring all records are kept in perpetuity. The Tomalin family were formally recognised for their efforts and received a distinctive bronze plaque and certificate to display on their property. On the Tomalin farm there are still five, six and seven generations of family both living and working on the land. One of the first families here, their history goes back 119 years to be exact. Craig and Jan Tomalin currently live and work onsite, daughter Ashleigh takes care of administration, calf rearing as well as an AI technician. Along with son Chris, they complete most of the contracting themselves with a fleet of John Deere tractors and equipment. The on-farm workshop completes all the repairs and maintenance work required. Established as Tomalin Engineering in 2008, the workshop was formed after Chris went out engineering on his own to start building cowsheds. In 2010 they restructured the farm and employed their first contract sharemilkers, and Chris came back to look after three dairy platforms for the next eight seasons. On its 300ha home block they raise 600 Friesian dairy cows and on the 150ha support block at Tapapa (Maori lease), they have 40 pure breed Hereford which produce bulls for dairy/beef production. When their ancestors came from England, they moved to Remuera and sold their land to take a Government ballot in the south Waikato. The Tomalin family in Putaruru. One of the first families in the district their history goes back 119 years. NZ CENTURY FARM & STATION AWARDS » Tomalin Farms Proudly associated with Tomalin Farms WHY YOU NEED A PROFESSIONAL BANKING ADVISOR WITH SPECIALIST SKILLS. Talk to the people in the know. Call 0800 NZAB 12 or email info@nzab.co.nz today For a free confidential chat Banks have a particular way of doing things. So when it comes to approaching them, a bit of inside knowledge goes a very long way. At NZAB, we’re previous rural banking professionals with decades of banking experience, so we know what makes banks (and bankers) tick. We’re 100% on your side and committed to getting the best outcome for you, your family and farm. Craig said the volcanic land was best described as the ‘wild west,’ and in pretty bad shape, but in the 1930s Gladys Reid discovered a cobalt deficiency that changed everything. “Now we have some of the best dairy land in the country.” But he said it took hard work and sheer determination to be in the dairy industry, “and if it was easy anybody could do it.” Craig said the award was important to his family in acknowledgement of their longevity, and in that time they had been through many different Government policies and changes in regulations. “There have been a lot of policies but we’re still here - we just farm with the land in mind and the vagaries of the Government.” Looking to the future, Tomalin Farms understands that technology is the key to making life easier, and hopefully it can join the 400 other Century farms to celebrate another 100 years.
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