| 39 nzdairy DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS » Pratt Brothers 2000 / Richard Grabham and Nikita Baker Scoops his region Award-winning team Alexia Johnston Tracey Edwardes Award-winning team Richard and Nikita Grabham have a great work/life balance, attracting staff from all walks of life. It’s been a busy year, first getting married, then jointly winning Share Farmer of the Year Canterbury/ North Otago 2025. And coming runner up for the national Share Farmer of the Year. Richard came out from Gloucestershire, UK, at 19 to work on a dairy farm and travel, having helped on his neighbour’s farm since he was 13. “I intended to be in New Zealand for six-months but the country and farms were pretty amazing, so I stayed five years.” After just a year back in England, Richard returned for good and met Nikita, originally from Ranfurly, on a Young Farmers tour in 2019. After working together for DDL Partnership farms, they became contract milkers in 2022 for the same company. Their two-year-old, Henry, is obsessed with the 1450 KiwiCross cows, which are on the larger side at 510kg. “It’s our first year entering the Share Milking category. Since entering the Farm Manager category in 2020, I learnt a lot about myself and my strengths. Nikita entered the Trainee of the Year in 2020, placed in the top five, and received a Merit Award. Our aim for the last three years had been to enter and win in 2025. My strength is definitely pastoral management, feed budgeting and business budgeting. I run the overall farm, feeding and winter operations. Nikita’s skills are staff management, animal health, breeding, cow movements, calf rearing, payroll and accounts. We can do all of each other’s stuff, while focusing on our own best areas. “This means that if one of us is away from the farm, then the business still runs at 100% and this creates great work life balance. We also credit our team and their abilities to manage the farm whilst we are away. It’s important to have a strong partner to back you whole way.” On the 420ha farm, they produce around 500kg Steven Pratt. Nikita, Richard and Henry. “There is always something different going on.” Technology and innovation play a vital role in Steven’s farm management approach. “Innovation and technology are very important as they help improve the farm system by making the job easier or give you better results by reducing human error,” he said. The farm uses automatic cup removers and teat sprayers, creating a “one-man shed”, as well as Levno to monitor milk and water. “[We are also] looking into wearables for heat detection and animal health management, and recording apps to try and condense the paperwork in one place.” Reflecting on the awards process, Steven said it gave him a valuable opportunity to evaluate his skills. “I have learnt that I have a good understanding of how the farm works and why.” However, one area he plans to improve on is his business knowledge. “[The awards are a] good way to look at where you are at in your career and what your goals are. It’s also a good way to network with other people in the industry.” Steven credits his parents for being his biggest supporters. He also acknowledges the positive role of the Young Farmers network, particularly the Morrinsville – Ngarua branch. For those considering a career in dairy management, Steven offers down-to-earth advice, stating there is “no right way to manage a farm”. “Every farm is different depending on location, climate, [and] goals. As long as you can justify your reasons why you do it to yourself, you are doing the best you can.” Looking ahead, Steven is focused on the future of the family business as he endeavours to embark on 50/50 sharemilking in partnership with his brother, Daniel. Ultimately, his next career chapter looks to build on the family legacy while forging his own - a philosophy that underpins both his award-winning approach and his plans for the future. milk solid annually in an 80-bale rotary shed. The in-calf rate is 74% in six weeks. When they took over, it was only 67%. “We milk 3/2 for most of the year other than winter. Twice on one day and once on the next, Less time walking cows to the shed and cutting out one milking every second day benefits both cows and staff. It took two years to get the same milk production as the conventional twice a day milking, and we’re on track to producing even more with all the added benefits. “It’s all through incremental management changes, feedings patterns, and staff training. “We jointly manage staff, with five team members and additional help over calving. Everyone does one early shift on one week, and two the next. Not many dairy farms do that. It’s great for morale and catching up on jobs. “Many long-serving staff move upwards in their careers. We employ a lot of backpackers in busy periods, but two months easily turns into nine! We get a lot of word-of-mouth referrals, especially from the UK. I understand the challenges being away from home, so we help them settle in, and introduce them to the Young Farmers Club. From builders, electricians, rock-climbers to dairy farmers, it’s nice to hear their stories and how companies outside of agriculture are run. “We want to make farming appealing, and ideally a 45-hour work week. We’re working towards straight shifts in the morning, rather than split shifts, and give all requested time off, so staff can have fun outside work and refresh.” The next goal is buying some cows, and ideally 50/50 share-milking on a 600-cow farm by June 2026. HAURAKI PLAINS MOTORS LTD For all new and used farm machinery 1 Pipiroa Road, NGATEA - Ph. 07 867 7021 e: admin@hpmotors.co.nz www.haurakiplainsmotors.co.nz Miles Shelley 027 227 1121 Michael Duffin 027 440 4681 0800 284 3838 | anexa.co.nz KEEP YOUR FARM MOO-VING. JOIN THE CLUB NOW. The Anexa team provides friendly and professional veterinary care for your farm and pets. 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David Jones - Area Sales Manager | 021 839 435 | ROBERT WILSON - 027 249 1767 | 03 303 7999 Main South Rd, Hinds 7747 | service@allfarmengineering.co.nz | www.allfarmengineering.co.nz AGENTS FOR: PROUDLY SUPPORTING RICHARD GRABHAM AND NIKITA BAKER A passion for farming, lifelong learning, and strong practical skills has earned Steven Pratt the 2025 Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Manager of the Year title. Steven, a fourth-generation farmer who manages his family’s home farm, said entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards was a way to challenge himself and gauge his knowledge against others in the industry. Steven’s early interest in the sector was shaped by weekends and school holidays spent helping his dad. His career has since taken him around the world, from harvesting in the United States to working on pig and arable farms in England, before returning home to pursue his future in dairying. After completing a Bachelor of Agriculture at Lincoln University, Steven travelled to the United States for a harvest season before taking on a 2IC role on a Canterbury dairy farm for a year and a half. He then spent two years in England working on pig and arable farms, before returning to manage the same Canterbury farm where he had previously worked. Now in his sixth season back on the family property, Steven said the variety of work is among the aspects he enjoys most.
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