Te Akau Midweek Update

David writes:

I received the very best news that you could possibly imagine over the weekend - the rain fell in the Hawke's Bay.

Most of my friends received around 75 to 80mls which, after the 15mls they had the previous week, will make a drastic change for them, and will help them going into winter with some feed for their stock.

I also noticed it was 21 degrees there yesterday, which is perfect grass-growing weather.

As a farmer, and someone who loves the land and their animals, there is nothing worse in life other than being involved in a severe drought. Each day would be torture going around farm, seeing it so dry, almost grey looking and watching your stock losing condition and hungry and not being able to do anything except wish for rain - that is truly heart breaking.

To get that news of decent rainfall on Sunday is simply wonderful.

At Te Akau Stud over the weekend we had 14mls of rain, which was just brilliant. It was beautiful, light warm rain and we have more rain due to come tonight - I never seen the farm looking so great. There is plenty of good quality grass, plenty of clover in among it and the stock are just absolutely thriving.

Last week on the farm we scanned our 5YO ewes at a 169% and
out of 370, only seven ewes were dry. We sent them to the Frankton sale
yesterday where they were sold for $143 each.

Tomorrow we are scanning the mixed aged ewes and the two-tooths. We like to know which ewes are in lamb with twins so that we can ensure they have plenty of feed once they get set stocked for lambing.

We have just about finished breaking all our yearlings in at Te Akau Stud and I know I have said this before, but after looking at ones that were working yesterday, I have no doubt that we have bought a vintage group of yearlings (that turn two on 1 August 2020).

It is a very exciting time and I would like to wish all our owners who have invested in these lovely yearlings all the very best of luck.

I would also like to personally thank everyone who has contacted me and congratulated me on my Royal Honour which was announced on Queen's Birthday Monday. It was certainly a huge thrill for me to be recognised by my community and my country. All your kind words have been greatly appreciated and mean so much.

The very first phone call I received on Monday morning was from Ian McKinnon CNZM QSO JP, who was my school teacher. We both shared our first day at King's College together, he as a teacher and me as a student. By a country mile, he was the most outstanding teacher that I ever had and he is an absolute champion human being. I have so much respect for him and everything that he has done in his life - and the lives of those he has immeasurably influenced.

Ian went on to be Headmaster at Wanganui Collegiate before travelling to Windsor in England, where he was Headmaster at the Lower School at Eton College. He now resides in Wellington and Karyn and I often take him and his wife Jenny out for dinner when we are in area - actually as recently as March this year after the Trentham races.

We also had a lovely lunch on Monday with some very close friends to celebrate - not a big lunch but a good one!

One the most touching outcomes from receiving this honour is that I have heard from people that I haven't been in contact with since I was at school - it has been great to reconnect. I have literally had hundreds of texts, emails and phone calls, and I would like to thank everyone again so much for their support. Karyn and I can't express how much it means to us.

It has been an excellent start to the week, we have more rain to come and everyone here is well and truly counting down until we begin racing again. Trials are just around the corner and it is only onwards and upwards from here.

Go the good guys, go the Tangerine and have a great week everyone.    

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