Opening their gate to growth

For Ben and Rebecca Trotter, entering the Ballance Farm Environment Awards was never about winning trophies. It was about opening their farm gate, challenging themselves, and learning how to build an even better business. 

In just seven years, the couple have transformed their 135-hectare property located at Luggate in Central Otago into a highly diverse and innovative operation that combines intensive bull beef finishing, strawberry production, hydroponic herbs, retail products and agritourism.  

The judges recognised the Trotters for their ability to identify market opportunities and move quickly to capture them, from value-added strawberry products to integrating waste back into the farm system. 

For the Trotters, the experience offered things that are less tangible, but equally valuable – perspective and connection. 

“So much of our working week is spent inside our own little bubble just getting stuck into what needs to be done,” Ben says. “The Awards got us out networking with likeminded people. We made new friends and reconnected with old ones.” 

Rebecca adds that the judging process challenged them to think about leadership and personal growth and  following the judges’ feedback, the couple have established an external advisory group to help guide future strategy. 

“It can be a lonely place growing a business. Every decision we make on this property is by us and us alone. For better or for worse,” she says, laughing.  

“Having outside perspectives has been hugely valuable.” 

Ben says entering the awards is something that he knew they would want to get involved in at some point. “We had both always followed the Awards when we were working as rural professionals,” he said. “It had been on our radar for some time, but we never really felt like we were ready. Then someone suggested we enter and we thought we might as well give it a go.” 

For Rebecca, the value of the Awards was in the process, not the outcome. “It was about utilising what was essentially free advice to sharpen what we are doing here. The judges took a deep dive into our business, the challenges we face and the opportunities ahead and provided us with some useful feedback.” 

Like many farming families, the Trotters did initially wonder whether entering would add another task to an already full life with four children under six. But they say the value of the experience has more than justified the effort. 

“We just felt there it was worthwhile because of the value we knew we could get from the experience,” Ben says. 

Rebecca laughs that her first thought when Ben suggested it was, “Oh! But we’re not recycling enough”, but the experience taught her the Awards are about much more than environmental practices alone. 

“It’s the people management, community involvement and business systems that are looked at as well.” 

Their message to others considering entering is simple: “I think growth happens when you’re prepared to go outside your comfort zone,” Rebecca says. “If growth is something you’re serious about in your farming business, then these Awards are for you.”