Page 105 - NZ Hereford Magazine 2023

Youngest-ever Hawke’s Bay

chairman a rising star

Words: Rachael Gordon. Photos: Supplied expanding bloodlines via imported Australian semen from the
likes of Wirruna in New South Wales and Tarcombe in Victoria.
“Don’t be afraid to take risks, and don’t give up.” “The end goal for me is to have my own farm and run the
That’s the sage advice 20-year-old Joel Steele has for stud completely with my family. In the near future, as well as
industry up-and-comers, as Hawke’s Bay Hereford Club’s learning as much as I can at Koanui, I’d love to have a bull
youngest-ever chairman. sale on Otoki so we can display our genetics.”
It was Chris Chesterman, owner of Koanui Polled Herefords, He says although leadership is something he’s had to work
who encouraged Joel to take over as Hawke’s Bay chairman. It’s at, he’s feeling good about the new role as chairman and his
set to be a busy 2023 with Joel at the helm. He plans to launch future prospects, and says he’s particularly grateful for the
more social events, farm tours and new joint workshops with support he’s had from Cedric Lander from Wairere Angus,
NZ Hereford Youth, of which he’s been a member since 2018. who pushed him to challenge himself, Rob Burrows from
He highly recommends the clubs for any young people Beechwood, who always checks in to see how he’s going, and
starting out in the industry. “Not only are they great for the Chesterman family and his own family. “I owe a lot to them
socialising, but you learn something new every time you have and am really grateful for their support.”
a catch-up. You’ve always got someone to bounce ideas off.” Glen Chesterman, who helps run Koanui and works closely
With his own fledgling stud and experience on some of New with Joel, thinks he has the potential to go far in the industry.
Zealand’s top breeding operations, the rising star from South “Joel’s really inquisitive, has a good eye for detail and he gets
Taranaki already has an impressive résumé. Joel’s passion for stuck in. He may be young, but he’s definitely showing a lot
farming began on his family’s lifestyle block, and his affinity of promise.”
for Herefords — which he favours for their “gruntiness and
hardiness” – was ignited by his uncle, David Steele, who runs
Davandra stud near Hawera.
After working on neighbouring property Wairere Angus for
much of his teens, Joel spent a year on Morrison Farming’s
Ardo stud in Marton before moving to Hawke’s Bay in July
2022 to take up a role as assistant herd manager at Koanui. Joel
says he’s already reaping the rewards from joining one of New
Zealand’s largest Hereford studs, which runs 900 registered
cows on 1800 hectares. “I’m learning from the best in the
industry and making the most of it while I’m still young.”
Joel says the scale of the operation means he’s already
had some big lessons in decision-making and efficiency. “I’ve
learned your first decision is the right decision. You can’t
spend a day looking at every individual cow because there’s
not enough time, so you quickly learn to size them up in just
a few seconds.”
Joel’s also kept busy with his own fledgling 40-hectare
Hereford stud, Otoki, that he runs with his parents back A cow and calf from the Otoki Stud Joel started with his parents
in Taranaki. They’re focused on building up numbers and in 2019.

Year 2023 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 103