From Sharemilkers to Farm Owners (again) —The Next Leap

It wasn’t long before we were looking at further opportunities—as is our way. We found a block of land that felt like the perfect addition to our farming needs. It had potential: a place to graze our calves, maybe even some winter stock. At the time, we were still Sharemilking, which had been a smart way to reduce our outgoings and channel those savings into paying off a mortgage.

But circumstances shifted. The farm we were Sharemilking was being sold, and the asking price was well beyond what we could manage. Suddenly, we were at a crossroads—with this new block of land in hand, we had to go back to the drawing board.

So we did what we often do: embraced the challenge. We decided to convert the block into a dairy farm. It was a bold move, but one that felt right. We became farm owners in a district we felt part of, and were happy to settle in. The books became personal again—we weren’t just managing numbers, we were shaping a future for our family.

My husband and I ran the farm ourselves, and we loved the lifestyle it brought. By then, our wee family had grown to three children, and the rhythm of farm life suited us. The biggest challenge was figuring out how to grow the business without large outputs. Finances were tight, but we kept looking for ways to diversify.

One of those ideas was purchasing a truck to transport wood chips—and it came with a contract, which gave us a reliable income stream. My husband also picked up additional work, contracting with a local operator to cart silage off farm. These opportunities helped us stretch our resources and keep things moving. I took on a few hours a week in an administrative role at the local Kindergarten too—another way to contribute and stay connected with the community. Every little piece helped, and together they formed a patchwork of resilience that carried us through.

Each step we took during that season was about making things work with what we had, while keeping an eye on what might be possible next. The truck contracts, the Kindergarten role, and the day-to-day running of the farm all helped us build a foundation. And quietly, behind the scenes, we were already dreaming about what else this little farm could become. There were ideas forming—ways to grow, to stretch, to make the most of the land and the life we’d chosen. But those stories are for another time.