| 49 nzdairy New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards » Abbi Ayre and Frikkie Terblanche Couple met quite literally across the fence Karen Phelps A couple who met ‘over the fence’ while farming in New Zealand have been named the 2026 West Coast/Top of the South Share Farmers of the Year. Abbi Ayre and Frikkie Terblanche lease two milking platforms near Reefton on the West Coast, running 500 cows across 92 hectares and 106 hectares owned by Aaron Slicock and Victor Kersten. Having just completed their third season leasing the blocks the pair also took home the DairyNZ People and Culture Award, the Federated Farmers Leadership Award and the ASB Business Performance Award. The road to the top has been anything but conventional, particularly for Abbi, 32, who grew up on a lifestyle block in Wanaka. She helped out on a local farm as a youngster and discovered a passion for the work. After leaving school she took a position at a sheep and beef station near Lawrence and it was later, while working on another farm neighbouring Frikkie’s, that the two met quite literally across the boundary fence. “He used to watch me grubbing thistles,” says Abbi with a laugh. Frikkie, 34, grew up on a farm in Zimbabwe before making his way to New Zealand, and together the couple have climbed steadily through the industry ranks from farm assistants to contract milkers, then sharemilkers and now share farmers. The couple have two children, Freya, six, and Arlo, four. Judges noted that the pair bring a clear strategic focus to everything they do with a clear and timebound pathway to farm ownership which is front of mind when making all business decisions. That pathway is already well under way. One of the two properties, the 106-hectare platform, is held under a lease-to-buy option over five years, and the couple are now two seasons into that arrangement. They are building equity and expect to own all of the herd outright shortly. “We have been on a journey to get to where we are and it hasn’t been one hundred per cent straightforward but we are both involved in the financial aspects of the business and have been open to other opportunities while focusing on growth,” says Abbi. The DairyNZ People and Culture Award recognised the working environment the couple have built for their team. The year the competition was judged on the business recorded an average of around 30 hours per week across three staff, a figure that reflects a genuine commitment to work-life balance. So valued is the workplace culture that a former 2IC returned to work with the business after the couple moved to the new operation. “Staff have told us they really enjoy being part of our team because it feels like being part of a family and we truly love farming and it shows in how we treat the farms, the cows and our people. We are always looking towards the future, not only to achieve our own goals but helping our staff towards theirs,” says Abbi. Community involvement earned the couple the Federated Farmers Leadership Award. Frikkie, 34, grew up on a farm in Zimbabwe before making his way to New Zealand, and together the couple have climbed steadily through the industry ranks. Frikkie sits on the Reefton Golf Club committee and is working on a farmers golf day. Abbi has helped with the local netball group, chairs the Reefton Early Learning Centre and is involved with the Promoting Buller group. They also ran a shed shout last in conjunction with the Farmstrong and had approximately 50 people turn up. The ultimate goal, the couple say, is greater freedom and building enough equity to eventually step back from day-to-day on-farm work and enjoy the life they are working so hard to create. P: 03 547 3276 • Servicing all types of milking systems • Mobile Shop 24 HOUR SALES & SERVICE PROUD TO SUPPORT ABBY AYRE & FRICKIE TERBLANCHE Available for all your contracting needs, large or small, in the Grey Valley, Inangahua, Springs Junction and Murchison areas. PREFERRED CONTRACTOR FOR ALL MAJOR SERVICE COMPANIES. Ring Malcolm - 027 242 5196 to discuss your needs today. • Farm Maintenance • Land Development • Roading • Effluent Ponds • River Protection • Pipe Laying • New build services • Poles & foundations • Property maintenance • Auger • Aggregate sales SPECIALISTS IN:
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