Page 109 - NZ Hereford Magazine 2023

Shrimpton’s Hill Herefords herd consists of 750 females and 750 support stock.

“I love it. I wouldn’t go back to the city,’’ she says.
Many people Hamish grew up with around the Cave area
had also recently returned home, many of them starting
families at the same time as Hamish and Abby, whose first
child (son Archie) was born in December 2022.
“It’ll keep the local school going,’’ Abby says, laughing.
Although she has embraced her new life on the farm and
plays an active role in the business, Hamish and his parents
encourage her to focus on her own career and pursue her
passions. Until November, when she went on maternity leave,
she was working part-time for Sport Canterbury, based in
Timaru. She has also been running group fitness classes in an
old woolshed on the farm that has been converted into a gym.
Hamish is still flying for The Helicopter Line, part-time
out of its Aoraki Mt Cook base, when he can fit it in around
farming. Hamish still flies part time
Hamish’s sister Fiona, who is working in IT in London, for The Helicopter Line (left)
remains involved in the farm. Her fresh perspective and new after flying in Australia for
ideas are invaluable, Hamish says. several years (above).
“As a family, we’re not afraid to have a go and try new things
– and we’re not afraid to fail either. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll
just change it.” “I needed
He says the family has been forward-thinking and adaptable,
and that’s one of the keys to their farming success. another string
Twenty years ago, John and Liz made the decision to switch to my bow –
from breeding bulls for the beef industry to breeding for the I didn’t want
dairy industry, then established a short gestation breeding to just be a
programme, selecting only for this single trait, specifically for mustering
the dairy bull and semen markets. In 2013, they entered into a
breeding relationship with LIC, and in 2019, sold their one- pilot.”
millionth straw of Hereford semen.

Year 2023 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 107