Mokairau - Hill country farm of the year.
The winner of the Gisborne-Wairoa Federated Farmers 2018 Hill Country Farmer of the Year competition Peter Reeves believes "you have to work with the strength of your land".
Mokairau Farm Ltd, operated by Peter and Christine Reeves, their sons Jon and Sam, and daughter Sophie and husband Nick Land, encompasses Mokairau Station at Whangara, Mangaone Station over the road, Mangaroa Station between Tolaga Bay and Tokomaru Bay and Waihapua inland from Tolaga Bay.
More than 180 farmers, farm service providers and others took part in an outstanding field day on Mokairau yesterday.
“The Reeves family are really impressive winners of this year’s competition,” said Sandra Faulkner, who was elected back into the role of Federated Farmers provincial president, at the Feds annual general meeting (AGM) that preceded yesterday’s farm tour.
“Federated Farmers congratulates them and is delighted for them,” she said.
Peter Reeves opened the day with a welcome in the station woolshed and said he and his family were humbled to win the competition and to showcase Mokairau, the base of their farm operation.
“Mokairau Farm Ltd is a collective entity that aims for individual results across the four properties,” he said.
“Every day is a discussion day among the family members involved and we have a lot of fun doing it.”
Mr Reeves said “relationships” had really strengthened the business over the years.
“Relationships with our bank, our stock agents and others who help us operate.
“Good relationships like that take a lot of stress out of your life.”
He paid special tribute to his wife Christine.
“If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be here, to be quite honest.”
Part of the day was given over to outlining a new arrangement developed between Mokairau Farm and Waimata Cheese round sheep milking.
“In August this year we will send the first mob of 300 ewes on to Rick and Carol Thorpe and their former dairy cow property at Manutuke, where they will milk them for cheese production.” Nick Land told the field day.
“The lambs will come back to us and we will hand rear them.”
Mr Thorpe said the Mokairau team were awesome people to deal with.
“We congratulate them on their win in this competition.”
He briefly outlined plans to develop two new cheeses from the sheep milk produced.
“I can see huge potential in sheep milk for the region and it is exciting.”
Mr Reeves also had something special to say about his son-in-law Nick.
“Nick has developed so well in the 12 years he has been with us.
“He’s got a lot of my good habits, and some of my bad ones too.”
Peter Andrew from AgFirst described the Reeves as “a highly motivated family team.
“A key driver of their success is the way the family does a lot of hard work to keep the costs down.
“They fire off each other in their running of the properties and they work so well together.
“It’s also good that the boys are the boss of their own blocks,” Mr Andrew said. Jon and Chloe Reeves run Waihapua, Sam Reeves runs Mangaroa, Sophie and Nick Land run Mangaone, which the Reeves purchased in February, and Peter and Christine run Mokairau.
The competition’s chief judge Adrian Brown from Rabobank said the family were so consistent on their financial returns.
“They display good long term planning and get the whole family around to do it.
“Everyone’s involved in the business, and their spending is based on needs not wants,” Mr Brown said.
Peter Reeves talked about the property with great passion and humility during the field day.
He pointed for example to the grass growth enjoyed this season.
“I’ve not seen grass growth like it on this country in my lifetime.”
He also shared some of his idealogy round farming,
“The key is to provide a good environment for your stock — good grass and good water. Look after your stock and they will perform for you.
“In life you do the best you can in whatever circumstances come along.
“Farming is a really complex business, no other business has the weather mixed in, and I think you can get too complicated.
“I believe you have to work with the strength of your land.”
His wife Christine said the field day was a lovely opportunity for the family to showcase Mokairau.
“This is a magnificant piece of country that we are lucky to live on.
“I know Peter felt humbled to win this competition, but he is also quite proud of it, and with good reason.”
In a special moment on a high point of the property she read out a short prayer.
“Thanks to God for the gift of this day, and thanks to the previous generations who have worked this land.
“Thanks for Pete’s part in providing for future generations and for his love, joy, patience, humility and self control.”
The field day was superbly directed again by Stephen Thomson from AgFirst.
The event was supported by Federated Farmers, Rabobank, AFFCO, Graham and Dobson, AgFirst, Ravensdown and Beef and Lamb NZ.
As well as Sandra Faulkner’s election again as Gisborne-Wairoa provincial president of Federated Farmers, Kerry Phillips was elected vice-president, and Sam Hain re-elected as meat and wool chair. Richard Briant, Campbell Chrisp, Hamish Cave, Charlie Reynolds and Sefton Alexander were re-elected to the executive. There will be more from the field day and from the Feds AGM in Focus on the Land on Saturday.