Stockwhips & Lattes

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we chat with Brian Clayton, one of the three brothers who own and operate Clayton Hops, New Zealand's largest hop-growing company. Brian, Glen, and Andrew Clayton grew up on a farm on the West Coast of the South Island and all traveled overseas to pursue corporate careers before coming home to NZ to get into the hops industry. Today Clayton Hops is a proud family-run business with the brother's better halves Sarah, Sara, and Rebecca also working on the farms and keeping the boys in line. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we get Hilary Webber back on the show to discuss Eqalis a vertically integrated medicinal cannabis business based in the Bay of Plenty. We all know that medicinal cannabis is now legal in New Zealand, but the industry is still fraught with obstacles and challenges which Hilary discusses with us.  Hilary describes Eqalis as an agritech business and says that the medicinal cannabis industry in New Zealand has the potential to be as big as dairy. So the questions must be asked, why is the government not backing the research and development in this industry and why is it still so hard to get a prescription for medicinal cannabis? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we chat to Hilary Webber, dairy farm owner and Chairperson of Eqalis, a vertically integrated medicinal cannabis business. Hilary's journey is hard-fought and fraught with obstacles. Hilary was a townie from Cambridge working as a nurse when she meet and then married a dairy farmer. From breastfeeding her kids in the milking shed to becoming the first woman elected on the NZ Dairy Board, Hilary has had an impressive governance career that was kickstarted initially through family tragedy.  Hilary then ditched the corporate roles for a while, put the gummies back on, project managed a series of farm conversions, and worked hard running several farms that she and her husband owned. Then tragedy struck again and Hilary shifted her focus into a governance role that she is very passionate about. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we chat with Jono Frew, co-founder of Quorum Sense, a network of farmers sharing knowledge about regenerative systems. Jono hasn't always been so clean and green and his journey from agrichemical operator to regenerative farm warrior is an interesting one.  Jono has regrets, but he has turned those regrets into lessons and shares them all with us. Also, his answer to our final question about what he would like to change in the rural industry is a goody, so this is one episode you do not want to miss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes Laura and Macca bravely step foot into the unknown Web 3 world and discuss things like blockchains, NFT communities, cryptocurrency, and one rural lad's journey into all of it. Ben grew up farming, studied marketing and business and when he started traveling overseas he began researching ways to make money online.  He now applies traditional marketing methodologies to a very non-traditional industry and right now is promoting a very unique online whiskey distillery which Laura becomes fascinated with!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we interview Maccas mate Brendan Webby from the mighty Waikato. Brendan shares his story of climbing the ladder from dairy factory worker after being kicked out of school, to farm ownership.  He says that there was a bit of luck and timing involved, but as we say, there is no such thing as luck, there is simply hard work and executing on opportunities, which is exactly what Brendan has done. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we chat with Dave Clouston, winemaker and owner of Two Rivers winery in Marlborough. In an industry that is dominated by corporates, owner-operated Two Rivers is working hard to stand out and disrupt the market with its exceptional blends and innovative thinking.  Dave has had an incredible journey from gypsy winemaker in the Mediterranean to boutique New Zealand wine entrepreneur and we love hearing how he developed his skills and passion for the industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we chat with Ken Payne an ex professional shearer turned farm tutor and district councilor based in Balclutha. Ken is passionate about our shearing and rural industry and for the last 2 decades has been passing on his skills and knowledge with Telford agricultural students and most recently, with Laura's interns at Fairlight Station. Ken can shear a sheep blindfolded, spins a good yarn and is a bit of a legend in the deep south. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we chat with Southland woman Kate Macdonald who just this week, launched her own company Davaar and Co. Kate has combined her agribusiness and marketing qualifications with her passion for farming by creating a modern take on the old fashioned homespun jerseys.  Using only the wool from her family's property in Southland which has been farmed by the Macdonald's since 1915, Davaar and Co has created fashionable woollen jerseys that would make any rural professional dam fine at the sale yards this season.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we talk with Simon Hunt, a pig farmer near Te Aroha in the heart of the Waikato. Simon loves a good challenge and has a history of turning around businesses. Simon has been there and done that, in addition to pigs, he’s worked in large dairy farms in the South Island and Hawkes Bay and accredits his success to getting the most out of people. I: @pukeroa_stationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we catch up with business owner and microbiologist Jayne McMillan. Jayne owns The Fridge Butchery in Cromwell, a paddock-to-plate vertically integrated meat processing business that she started 4 years ago. Jayne is a microbiologist by trade and still does consulting work for Alliance, work she assures us, that is not all lab coats and microscopes.Jayne has been in the media this month for becoming the NZ face of a global campaign to help promote more women into the meat processing industry. #SheLooksLikeMe is a movement aimed to inspire women into a meat processing career and Jayne says while there are many more women these days on the processing floor, she would like to see more women in leadership roles.  Jayne has very much forged her own path and is a pioneer in many ways. Her final piece of advice on this episode about being the bargy cat that pushes the door open sums up her approach to life nicely. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we interview self-described genetics geek Anna Boyd. Anna was born and raised on Haldon Station in the Mackenzie Country and after completing a Bsc in Zoology, a stint in AgResearch, Anna is now the Beef Genetics Operations Specialist for Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics, a role that she absolutely loves.  Anna bleeds red and white (loves her Herefords) and her message to bull buyers is simple, buy better bulls and by better, she means genetically superior.  This is a fascinating interview for anyone interested in genetics and a bloody good yarn from a seriously motivated and determined rural legend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we chat with farmer and ex-farm show demonstrator Ru Gaddum. Ru is currently running an 880 ha deer, beef, and sheep farm in Kereru but also farms in conjunction with his brother and father so combined they cover 1783ha across 5 properties in the mighty Hawkes Bay.Ru spent 2 years in Japan as a farm demonstrator, entertaining thousands with his sheep shearing and mustering skills and shares some great stories and lessons with us about his time there. Ru speaks incredibly high of his Grandfather and the farming legacy that he originally established and is proud to be carrying on that legacy now with his own family nestled in the foothills of the Ruahine Ranges. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we chat with 22-year-old dairy farmer Sydney Porter. Born and bred in the Naki, Sydney reckoned that school wasn't for her so she started working for her brother who was contract milking, and fell in love with working outdoors and with cows. Sydney is now managing a 33 split calving property in Hawera and is not sure where she wants her career to go from here, but she isn't afraid to put herself out there. Sydney entered the NZ Dairy Awards twice and the second time around in 2021 took out the top spot!Sydney is a top bloody chick who is passionate about the industry and takes the best cow selfies!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vote for Stockwhips & Lattes for the 2021 NZ Podcast Awards Listeners Choice!  This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we chat with Gisborne-based Shaun McCarthy who grew up on farms up north and is currently driving logging trucks after 8 years working for a topdressing company in Gisborne.  Shaun loves the outdoors, isn't afraid of a bit of hard work and although being a top-dressing pilot is still on the agenda, he is enjoying diversifying into another industry right now until he can duck over to Auz and fly there. I: shaun.mccarthy58See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vote for Stockwhips & Lattes for the 2021 NZ Podcast Awards Listeners Choice!  This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we interview Jimbo Burgess, a top dressing pilot, and a self-described plane geek. Jimbo's Instagram is full of videos of him doing extreme maneuvers that even Air Force jet fighter pilots reckon are pretty insane.  Jimbo is exceptionally passionate about what he does, reckons it is the best job in the world, and is keen to do his part to encourage others into his industry. I: jimboburgessSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vote for Stockwhips & Lattes for the 2021 NZ Podcast Awards Listeners Choice!  This week we interview 21-year-old shepherd Brooke Elstob. Brooke grew up farming in Central Otago, she left school at age 16 to work full time for a tailing gang and landed her first shepherding job at age 17 on Lake Hawea Station.Brooke hasn't looked back since and recently returned to the mainland after a short stint on the Chatham Islands. This farming, rodeo girl, with aspirations to get her Heli-license is single and ready to mingle and we are stoked to share her story with you all!  I: @brookeelstobSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Stockwhips and Lattes we chat with Laura's old scarfie mate Kieran Bruce, aka Chin, owner, operator of K Bruce Shearing in Taumarunui. Chin studied a BSc at Otago Uni with Laura and after jumping on the handpiece during the uni holidays to make a bit of cash, he decided to pursue a professional shearing career after graduating as a way to make some good money and now owns his own shearing business. Chin has always had his eyes on the prize and chose to purchase a few student flats with his saved shearing pennies and this investment paid off big time, allowing him to grow his shearing business and purchase his own lifestyle block back home in the King Country.Chin's story is a great example of what can be achieved in our rural industry with a bit of hard work and the right attitude.  Facebook: K Bruce Shearing Vote for Stockwhips & Lattes for the 2021 NZ Podcast Awards Listeners Choice!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vote for Stockwhips & Lattes for the 2021 NZ Podcast Awards Listeners Choice!  Simms Davison, owner and studmaster of Mapperley Stud joins us this week on Stockwhips and Lattes. Mapperley Stud has been in the Davison family for three generations. Developed for the sole purpose of breeding and raising young thoroughbreds, Mapperley spans over 600 acres of beautiful rolling Waikato country. Simms is in the middle of his busy breeding season with his 3 stallions working hard and this interview dives deep into the 'ins and outs' of what is involved in stud operations as well as the challenges facing their industry.  Although Simms was born and bred on Mapperley, he pursued a professional rugby career before eventually taking over and diversifying the family business.  A genuine GC, Simms, the Studmaster, shares a very authentic look into a part of our rural industry that few know about.  W: https://www.mapperleystud.co.nz/ I: mapperley_studSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vote for Stockwhips & Lattes for the 2021 NZ Podcast Awards Listeners Choice!  This week we yarn with southern shepherd Heather Thompson. Laura introduced herself to Heather a few years ago when she was a farm demonstrator at Walter Peak, Queenstown's biggest agritourism experience. After watching her round up some sheep with her epic heading dog Jess, Heather then proceeded to shear one of the sheep in front of a large crowd and look like an absolute boss while doing it. Laura was super impressed and had to meet her.  Fast forward a few years and Heather left her agritourism role to go back to her family farm in South Otago when her Dad got a bit sick and needed someone to run the farm. Heather is now shepherding at Crown Rock Station with her partner Nick but feels like there is more to life than just farming so is starting to assess how she can diversify her life and career while still being involved in the rural industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.