Stoney Creek Test Team

MEET SOME OF OUR GEAR TESTERS

THESE GUYS AND GIRLS ARE COMMITTED TO OUR BRAND AND HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BECAUSE THEY ARE COMPLETELY QUALIFIED TO PROVIDE QUALITY FEEDBACK. THEIR COMBINED YEARS AND FARMING HOURS ARE IMPRESSIVE. THEY CONTINUE TO THRASH AND EVALUATE OUR PRODUCT, FABRICS AND DESIGNS ON ALL LEVELS, FROM ENGINEERING THROUGH TO PRACTICAL APPLICATION. THEY LIVE AND FARM IN THE RUGGED ENVIRONMENTS THAT OUR GEAR THRIVES IN.

DAN & GEE Harper,

QUARTZ HILL STATION, RAKAIA GORGE

LAND USE: Sheep, Beef and Deer STOCK: 5500 ewes, 550 cows, 350 velveting stags, 1000 hinds SIZE: 3330ha, 2930ha breeding platform, 400ha finishing farm, (200ha irrigated) CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT: Steep South Island high country, exposed to extreme seasonal changes prone to adverse snow events and high winds. Quartz Hill is well known as a tough place to farm. Located in the snow sock underneath Mount Hutt. Snow can sit for long periods in the winter with extremely cold temperatures the valley has been down as low a -19º in years past. Out of the valleys and up on the tops the station is extremely exposed to the north wester and ever changing high country environment, this combined with the finishing farms where more intensive strip grazing takes place on the crops creates the ultimate testing ground for all products.

Alice Satterthwaite

MARLBOROUGH, NZ

Alice is the third generation to come through the impressive Muller Station, Marlborough - located at the head of Awatere Valley. Located in one of the most rugged and remote climates New Zealand has to offer, Alice and her full-time team of dogs, spend their time shepherding between some of the country’s most remote high country stations. There is no doubt that Alice gives our gear a good thrashing. Whether she is mustering with her dogs, trekking horses or scoping out game, Alice loves getting amongst the outdoors no matter what the weather brings. The Women’s ThermoFlex Jacket has been Alice’s staple, helping her through the blistering cold winter months of the south.

Henry & ERIn Bolt

RANGITATA DOWNS, SOUTH CANTERBURY

LAND USE: Dairy STOCK: 600 Dairy Cows, 150 R2’s, 150 Calves SIZE: 184 ha effective irrigated CLIMATE/ENVIRONMENT: Flat Stoney Loam, prone to muddy winters

Like all farmers, Henry and Erin live and breathe the farming way of life. They understand what it is to be resilient and have experienced farming during tough times where weather extremes often set the rules. For the last two seasons Henry and Erin have played a vital role in testing our gear and have been instrumental in the development of our Wet Weather gear, in particular our Hard Yards range. Henry has provided us with the valuable insight we require to help develop the right purpose-built rural gear to get out and do what needs to be done regardless of extreme weather conditions.

Whitelock Family

GALAXY & BRAESIDE DAIRIES, MANAWATU

LAND USE: Dairy STOCK: 2300 cows, 1000 calves reared annually SIZE: 850ha CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT: Expansive flat dairy landscape with heavy silt loam soils. Bordering 7km of the Manawatu river which at times is prone to flooding and pugging if not managed correctly. Set in the heart of Linton, Manawatu, Galaxy & Braeside Dairies is owned by Braeden and Caroline Whitelock. Their team are out in their wet weather gear for long periods of time and have set the standard extremely high for what purpose-built dairy farming gear needs to stand up to. The heavy silt is tough on gear when wet for prolonged periods and provides a great testing ground. The Whitelock’s also have 4 boys who love their hunting, just as much as their farming and rugby.

Cam & Linda Wilton

MOUNGANUI STATION, TAIHAPE

LAND USE: Dry stock STOCK: 15,000 ewes, 1000 cattle SIZE: 3100ha CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT: Central Plateau high country. Harsh volcanic abrasive soils. High elevation and exposure to regular snow and wind with long winters.

Mounganui Station is managed by Cam and Linda with their three children and based in the high central North Island. The Station’s location is known to have long winters and is exposed to fast changing weather throughout the seasons. This environment creates the perfect testing ground to put our insulation range and layering systems to the test. The new Isobar has excelled in this environment.

Guy & Fiona Redfern

MUZZLE STATION, CLARENCE RIVER

LAND USE: Dry stock and Honey STOCK: 5500 Merinos, 2000 Hereford Cattle, 600 Beehives SIZE: 14,000ha CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT: South Island high country, exposed to extreme seasonal changes. Regarded as one of the most isolated stations in New Zealand, Muzzle Station is owned by Tina and Collin Nimmo and run by daughter Fiona and Guy Redfern. As an integral part of the Stoney Creek Rural Test team, we’ve been working closely with the team at Muzzle to in the continued development and innovation of Stoney Creek’s purposebuilt rainwear and insulation ranges, ensuring that they perform in these harsh high country environments.