LIVESTOCK | ONFARM
Focusing on forages Returning to the family farm in North Canterbury after a spell in Western Australia, Stuart and Jo Fraser have no regrets about their change of lifestyle. Sandra Taylor reports. Photos by Lucy Hunter-Weston.
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Jo and Stuart Fraser with their son Jock. Family was one of the drivers behind their decision to return to farming.
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tuart and Jo Fraser made the life changing decision to leave Perth three years ago and take over the management of North Canterbury’s Mt Benger. Regrets? Not one. Since returning to the farm where Stuart grew up, the couple have welcomed the arrival of their son Jock (2) – whose first word was tractor – and by the time this goes to print, will have had another addition to the family. It is the opportunity to bring their children up enjoying the lifestyle Stuart and Jo both had as children that was one of the drivers behind them leaving successful careers in Western Australia, Stuart as a diesel mechanic working in the mining industry and Jo as a sustainable building consultant. While they had always intended returning home, it was to set up their own business servicing diesel machinery. When the management position on Mt Benger became available, they took the opportunity to return to an industry and a lifestyle they were both familiar with, but had not worked in for many years. It was a risk, but one that has paid off in spades as the couple have embraced the challenge and applied the skills and knowledge gathered over years in nonfarming industries to Mt Benger. They also approached the role with open minds and a willingness to give things a go, while surrounding themselves with a support team, many of whom have had a long history with Mt Benger. For example, their relationship with ANZCO Foods and Luisetti Seeds has spanned two generations and both reps know Mt Benger and the Fraser family well. Of the 2750ha station, 80% is hill country
Country-Wide
December 2020
