MILESTONE: Everitt's spring sale 2015, half a century since the family built their own yards and staged the sale on the farm. PICTURES/KAYE DRAGICEVICH
It was a family affair at Everitt's recent spring sale on their farm on Everitt Road, Te Kao, a celebration of 50 years since their company John Everitt and Sons, was formed.
John took pride in producing good, strong, quality cattle, a legacy he handed on to his sons Boro and Jessie. In 1965 the family built their own yards and held their first sale on the farm.
Boro married Sandra Marsden in 1967 and they raised five children, Robert, John, George, Carmena and Tupuni.
Over the years farming practices have changed; government blocks were developed, farms changed hands, some went into forestry, but Boro and Jessie are still farming the land their father purchased in the early 1950s. The brothers now farm separately, each under their own name.
Boro and Sandra run a big dry stock farm, with their son Robert taking on a large part of the load. John is a shepherd on Te Rangi Block, George is truck driving in Australia, Carmena works for Tegal in Taranaki, and Tupuni is a commercial fisherman at Totara North. This year George came home for the sale with his wife Lisa.
A display board at the sale, showing sale notices of Far North Spring Fairs dating back 50 years, created a lot of interest.
Far North Spring Fairs were legendary, drawing in buyers from all over the North Island. Back in the day stock companies Dalgety Loan, North Auckland Farmers and Wright Stephenson's raised a high profile in the North.
Spring Cattle Fairs took a week to complete, beginning at Thoms Landing, on the shore of Parengarenga Harbour. In 1965 The National Film Unit filmed as 580 head were yarded and sold at Thoms Landing. Steer prices were up from 23 ($46) to 30 ($60)!
After the sale Ken Lewis and his team of drovers took control of the stock marked for going south, to begin their long drove.
The next sale was on Friday, at Te Kao, with a yarding of 410 head, followed on Saturday at Houhora (520 head). Monday was Kaitaia (900 head), Tuesday Herekino (310 head), Wednesday Peria (640 head), and finally Broadwood (1100 head). A grand total of 3820 cattle yarded, and yet this was down 1180 on the previous year's tally.
Those were the days when large numbers of cattle were offered for sale.
After each sale Ken added to his numbers, merging newly-marked stock into one large mob on the road south.
The Northland Age noted in 1970 that cattle came forward in particularly good condition at Mr John Everitt's sale, slightly better grown than the previous year. They met strong competition and prices were well in advance of recent ruling rates: "18-month Hereford and Hereford-cross steers $86-$105. Yearlings $71-$81; small yearling steers $61.50. Hereford and Hereford-cross heifers $64-$76 and Hereford cows with calves at foot $94 -$116."
In 2011 Boro Everitt decided to go out of breeding, and in April held a dispersal sale of the breeding stock, the first sale for some years back on the property. Over the next four years they bought in stock, but each year it was a struggle to get the numbers they required, buying in from the Broadwood and Kaikohe sale yards. As cattle prices went up Boro was forced to have a change of heart and return to what they did best.
This year Robert is back into breeding; he has 122 two-year-old Angus and Charolais heifers that will begin calving on January 25.
Robert was pleased to say at their sale that buyers had the opportunity of buying good pen lines of 50 in one hit, or the option of taking half the pen. He handles his cattle every three or four days, so they are reasonably quiet, well used to being shifted and come readily to the sound of the motorbike.
PGG Wrightson's renowned auctioneer, the late Ross Foy, handled Everitt's sales for many years. This year Bernie McGahan, from Wellsford, was the auctioneer, with help from agents Dean May and staff from Kaitaia, Kaikohe and Wellsford. PGG Wrightson's office lady Rosina Goodwin made out invoices in a businesslike manner on the day.
Prices for the 50th year sale were as follows:
50 x 18 month steers 350-400kg - $1000-$1250; 70 yearling steers - $760-$890; 250 yearling heifers - $600-$770.
After the sale there was a friendly gathering in the refreshments shed, buyers, stock agents, willing helpers and the family sharing stories and jokes over a few beers. All in all a memorable day.