Job Details

Category: Sheep and Beef
Location: Hawke's Bay

Rural Directions

ONEPOTO BLOCK MANAGER - SMEDLEY STATION

Stunning property located in Tikokino, Central Hawke’s Bay
Support and encouragement from a strong management team
Develop yourself professionally while training the next generation of farmers.

WHERE
Smedley Station was left to the Crown in 1919 for it to be carried on as a farm to train young people in practical farming and today it exists as a school of excellence to develop the very best future farmers. The farming operation and cadet training farm is located in Tikokino, 40kms west of Waipukurau near the Wakarara and Ruahine Ranges in Central Hawke’s Bay.

Smedley has grown to its current size of 5,600ha (3,400ha effective), wintering 30,000su across the four blocks including the main Smedley block, Parks Peak, Onepoto and Ridgelands with the latter three having Block Managers employed on them.

Onepoto is a 640ha flat to easy hill country property backing onto the main Smedley block, which is primarily run as a finishing block and supports the main two breeding blocks of Smedley and Parks Peak, to finish all the progeny. A line of 2000 MA terminal ewes and a small mob of breeding cows are also run on this property.

Onepoto is a high performing property and consistently finishes between 5-6000 lambs and 400 bulls with good policies and infrastructure in place to achieve these expected results.

WHAT
This opportunity is in the market after a great 23-year tenure by the current Block Manager who is leaving the property in an excellent condition for takeover by the successful applicant.

The appointee to this Block Manager role needs to have excellent stockmanship skills, the ability to effectively manage livestock, and a high level of animal health knowledge. They will be working closely with the Business Manager but also be responsible for all day-to-day management of the property including the stock agents and other contractors.

The Block Manager will be detailed with feed and pasture management, and understand stock rotations, completing pasture covers and feed availability. Along with the stock work there is a requirement to complete general tasks including managing R & M fencing, hand-piece work and all other activities related to farming.

From Monday to Friday each week there is a senior and junior cadet on Onepoto. They will be working alongside the Block Manager who will be responsible for supporting them with all tasks.

To read more about the position please visit – https://bit.ly/4eYhZ4v

WHO
The appointee to this role will be a Block Manager who enjoys mentoring young cadets in a positive and proactive way. Along with a sense of humour and well-rounded general skills the below are key to success in this role:

• Excellent understanding of the fundamentals of farming.
• Strong understanding of feed quality and supply/demand.
• Ability to provide input into your blocks stocking policies and ability to achieve stock production targets.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills.
• High level of stockmanship with a team of 5 good working dogs.
• Proficiency and passion around the training and working of dogs, with the transference of this passion and
• skill set to cadets.
• Strong forward planning and time management skills.
• Accurate record keeping and reporting skills – FarmIQ, monthly reporting and excel is utilised on farm.
• Interest and ability in utilising technology and modern systems.

Date Posted: 2024-07-10