2020 National Ambassadors and East Coast Regional Supreme Winners

The property ranges in height from 130 to 360m above sea level with the higher reaches of the farm giving great views across the Elsthorpe district.

There is a focus on biodiversity and trees. As well as the regenerating QEII block, there is an annual pole planting programme for shade and erosion control, annual planting of natives, regular possum, cat and deer control, and wetland and riparian planting.

A soil conservation plan was done in Evan and Linda’s first year on the farm, followed by farm-based soil mapping in 2005 and a farm environment management plan through Beef + Lamb New Zealand in 2018.

The current production system is designed around a dry summer and a wet winter.

1500 Romney ewes are put to a terminal ram with all progeny sold.

300 old ewes lamb in July, with progeny killed at 19 to 20 kilograms late October.

The main mob and two-tooths lamb August 1st with 700 to 800 killed or stored late November and the balance taken through to winter and killed at more than 24kg.

The cattle side of the business is all trading and is a mixture of cows, bulls and steers.

240 four-day-old bull calves are hand reared annually.

The deer side includes a self-replacing velveting herd producing 1.2 tonne of velvet annually as well as 10 tonne of venison.

Two-thirds of the farm is under a reticulated water system pumped from the Hawea Stream and supplemented by an extensive dam system.

Socially, the Potters have great involvement with community, school, sport and industry. They say Waipapa is an awesome environment to live, work and raise a family.

2020 AWARDS RECEIVED:

National Ambassadors and recipients of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy
East Coast Regional Supreme Winner 2020
Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
Synlait Climate Stewardship Award
East Coast Farming for the Future Award
Read more about the awards.