Across that scale, they manage a large team and a big operation with a strong focus on wellbeing, reflection and culture.
Stacey, who was a full-time counsellor until January, said that their success had as much to do with how they look after their staff as how they run the farm.
“I tried to demonstrate that the way we look after our staff is based on the Te Whare Tapa Whā wellbeing model, which is something I used a lot in my work in mental health,” she said.
“It’s just ensuring that all aspects of their mental health or wellbeing are looked after, being physical health, family health, mental health, and spiritual health.”
This approach paid off, as the Mackereths also won the DairyNZ People and Culture Award and the Federated Farmers Leadership Award.
Stacey said every staff member had half an hour each week to fill in a reflection journal, an idea that Scott initiated.
“It’s giving them some space and time to reflect on how they’re feeling with us as employers, with themselves as employees, and if they feel like they’re progressing in the way they want to,” she said.
“We don’t read their reflection journal, that’s for them to have for themselves, but just as a way to ensure that we’re always on track and they are as well.”
Scott had a motto that helped him navigate tough situations: “Go fast alone or go far together”.
It was born of personal experience, following a difficult period in the US when the Covid pandemic disrupted his business ventures, forcing the couple to return to New Zealand earlier than planned.
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“We ended up back in New Zealand, not quite on our terms,” he said.
“We always wanted to return back to New Zealand and bring our kids up here – but yeah, it took a couple of years just to find our feet completely."
Stacey said Scott’s motto came about when he realised he was trying to do too much on his own.
“I think what you were saying historically, Scotty, you recognised you were going too fast, but when you actually work as a team, you can get a lot further together.”
The Mackereths also picked up the Trelleborg Sustainable Pasture Award, with judges noting they turned poor-performing land into an exceptional farm business.
Scott, 42, and Stacey, 40, won $28,000 in prizes for their efforts, but had yet to decide what to do with their winnings.
However, Stacey had an idea in keeping with the couple’s philosophy.
“As we have when we’ve won previous awards, we also like to put some back into our staff,” she said.
“Even if that’s just a way to celebrate, take them out for dinner, make sure that they reap some of the rewards from all the hard work that we’ve all put in.”
