He was born into Northland farming life and went to Lincoln University to study a Bachelor of Commerce where it was suggested he go to the United States to complete a Masters in Agricultural Economics in 2001.
He spent the next three years there, met Stephanie who was studying neural biology and they left together to travel in Europe.
Once back in New Zealand he worked at AgResearch at Ruakura for a year in supply chain research returning to Northland to run the family farm at Kaikohe. Just two years into running a farm converted back to dairying they were named Northland Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year.
The owners were relatively unknown when they approached the couple with the idea of changing back to dairying after eight years of not milking off the land. The dairy was rebuilt and a new feedpad is going in for next season to increase winter milk production.
It was the Olivers’ first time competing and they not only took away the big prize but also no fewer than six merit awards.
Lance, 35, and Stephanie, 31, 50:50 sharemilk 445 split-calving cows for John Bayly at Kaikohe. Lance is also an equity manager in the family farm business that split calves 450 cows with a 400ha drystock unit.
They paid tribute to the open relationship between farm owner, themselves and their manager, Bruce Jones, who Lance described as “looking like a fox terrier but he’s a pit bull inside”.
They also acknowledge the support of Aaron and Kim MacPherson who work on the farm, saying they were passionate about dairy farming and had the commitment to grow the business.
Their plan is to consolidate their sharemilking business, set up in 2012, and to reduce debt so future expansion opportunities can be considered in the next five years.
They won the DairyNZ Human Resources Award, the Federated Farmers Leadership Award, the Honda Farm Safety and Health Award, the LIC Recording and Productivity Award, the Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award and the Westpac Business Performance Award.
The runners-up were Okaihau equity sharemilkers Grant and Danielle Petterd, who milk 461 cows on 186ha at Okaihau. They also won the Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award. The Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award went to Nick and Cherie Bishop who milk 430 cows on 167ha at Dargaville. They also won the Triplejump Risk Management Award.
Lance and Stephanie Oliver will host a field day on their property on April 16.
