78 | nzdairy New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards » R and T Pastoral / Red Fern Ltd Kelly Deeks Alexia Anderson R&T Pastoral’s commitment to people, performance, and continuous improvement has been recognised on the national stage, with farm manager Owen Clifford named Dairy Manager of the Year at the 2026 Auckland Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards and now heading to the national competition. Based at Waerenga, Owen manages a 470 cow autumn calving herd for Ross and Tracey Laing across a 200ha platform, supported by a 50ha runoff. The system is underpinned by strong infrastructure, consistent management, and a clear focus on efficiency, with the herd averaging around 520kgMS per cow annually. Owen says the award reflects years of development and persistence. “This was my fourth time entering. Each year I have learned something new and improved on the areas I was not so strong in. To finally win shows the growth I’ve achieved in four years.” Originally from England, Owen spent five years farming in Britain before heading to New Zealand at age 20, initially working as an agricultural contractor, but his pathway soon shifted toward dairying. That pathway included meeting his wife Sarah, daughter of farm owners Ross and Tracey, with the couple now raising their wee baby James on farm. Owen joined the business in a second in charge role before taking on greater responsibility over time. He says the farm’s team culture has been key to its success. “There are three of us working here and Ross has never been big on job titles. Everything is shared and everyone does what needs to be done. That approach works really well. It keeps everyone involved and accountable.” Judges noted Owen’s strong understanding of his herd and his use of detailed record keeping to drive breeding and management decisions. That focus has translated into targeted improveFrom engineering graduates to dairy farming success, Bay of Plenty Share Farmers of the Year, Stefan and Rachel Grobecker have taken a unique path to the top of the industry. The couple, who farm two dairy properties in Waimana, recently took home the Bay of Plenty Share Farmer of the Year accolade at the 2026 NZ Dairy Industry Awards. Stefan and Rachel’s story began when they met at the University of Canterbury, where they were both studying for a Bachelor of Engineering. After graduating, they worked in engineering before heading overseas and eventually returned to New Zealand where Stefan decided to pursue his long-held interest in agriculture. “I had always been interested in farming with many friends in the farming industry.” He started out with Pamu as a dairy assistant on the Wairakei Estate before progressing into a production manager role in Waikite Valley. Stefan’s next move involved a return to his initial career in engineering. Rachel was working for startup company Geo40 at the time, which was looking for someone to help manage the build of the company’s geothermal plant in Taupo, so Stefan filled the role. The role was temporary and eventually dairy farming beckoned, once again. In 2021, the Grobeckers moved to Waimana, in the Bay of Plenty, to take up a 190 cow contract milking role for Rachel’s parents. The following season they transitioned into a herd-owning sharemilking (HOSM) position before securing another HOSM opportunity in 2023, milking 240 cows. Today, Red Fern Ltd operates across two dairy farms, combining a mix of dairy platforms and runoff support land. Heading to the national stage A unique path to the top ments, particularly within the pedigree Friesian herd. “We have moved away from carrying over lower performing cows and focused on keeping younger, high quality pedigree animals,” Owen says. “It is about building a consistent herd and keeping that line going.” Feed utilisation is another area where Owen places significant emphasis, with a system built around homegrown maize and careful management to minimise waste. “I am pretty particular when it comes to feeding out. We grow 40ha of maize on farm and bring in another 10ha, so there is a lot going through the feed pad. I do not want to see any wastage.” The operation includes a 50 bale rotary shed and a 500 cow feed pad, with maize yields averaging 25 tonnes per hectare. Young stock are reared on the 50ha runoff, with around 100 replacements kept each year. Owen says adaptability is one of the most important traits in farm management. “Every day can be different. You have always got to be ready to deal with new challenges and work through problems as they come. Being open minded and well rounded is a big part of the job.” Looking ahead, Owen and Sarah are preparing to step into a contract management role from June, allowing Ross to reduce his workload while remaining involved during peak periods. As part of his award win, Owen will also join the Dairy Industry Awards committee for the coming year, something he sees as an opportunity to give back. “It is a good way to support the programme and help others coming through,” he says. “The awards have played a big role in my development, so it is important to stay involved.” With a clear pathway toward sharemilking and farm ownership, Owen’s journey highlights the opportunities available within New Zealand’s dairy sector for those willing to learn, adapt, and put in the work. Stefan says entering the awards programme came at an important time for the couple. “Given a number of factors, we were unsure if we wanted to continue in the dairy industry. We entered the awards programme to take a hard look at our own business, identify a strategy that would work for our family and make connections with leaders in the industry.” He says preparing for the competition was a challenge, but the process itself was highly valuable. “We enjoyed sharing our journey with the judges, being open about changes we’ve made to the farms and challenges we’ve had to overcome.” Their farming philosophy focuses on what Stefan describes as “work hard to make it easy”, along with a strong focus on incremental improvements. “This frees up time to focus on the key part of dairy farming - cows and grass.” Among the improvements the couple are most proud of was the redevelopment of an 18 hectare lease block that previously had been left to go fallow. “Through a planned spraying and regrassing programme, we have turned those paddocks into functioning dairy pasture again.” Now, with their latest regional accolade under their belt, they are gaining confidence in their future within the industry. “Personally, it has provided external validation that we are on the right track and doing an okay job.” The recognition comes as the couple prepare to move onto a larger 700 cow operation, which operates a rotary shed, with feed pad and irrigation system. Stefan says they are excited for the challenge ahead and are grateful their current staff will be joining them on their next chapter. AGRICULTURAL HELICOPTER OPERATORS THE COMPLETE ON FARM HELICOPTER COMPANY CALL US TODAY 0800 2 ROTOR (0800 276 867) OR CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE WWW.ROTORWORK.CO.NZ FARMit Accountants are proud to support Red Fern Ltd (07) 307 7245 team@farmit.net.nz www.farmit.net.nz GOLD PARTNER Company Restructures Succession Planning Financial Accounts Tax Planning Equity Partnerships Budgeting and Forecas�ng 021 364 264 orders@bayspreaders.co.nz Diggers Trucks Bulldozers Draglines Excavation & Drainage | Farm & Commercial FREE QUOTES Call Tim 027 493 2115 Email admin@broughtoncon.co.nz
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