Successful English Leicester stud sheep farmer

Press, 31 October 1986, Page 18

Successful English Leicester stud sheep farmer

From a partnership with his brother, Gordon, to a company involving himself and two sons, is the abbreviated history of Harold Bennett, the successful English Leicester stud sheep farmer and president of the Ashburton A. and P. Show committee.

The Bennett family originally moved into the Wakanui area, east of Ashburton, in 1874, though to a farm which was inland from the present 260 ha at Riverside. The land was purchased after his pioneer forebears moved from Prebbleton and paid the equivalent of $19.77 per hectare. In 1974, one place in the area fetched $2313 a hectare.

About 1918, the family moved to the present pro-

perty and sold the first farm to the McCosker family, another well known in the area. As well as the land on the sea side of the road to Hakatere Huts, the family had property on the inland side of the road. Harold Bennett took over the property in partnership with his brother, Gordon, in 1954, and went it alone after the latter died in 1966. He now farms it with the help of his sons, who are involved in the company.

Both Robert and Jeffrey Bennett have made their marks at sport. Their sporting careers have similarly successful histories in Mid-Canterbury tennis and hockey. The other son, David, with his wife, Mavis, farms at Wakanui, while Stuart

Tarbotton is the farm cadet.

Mr Bennett senior described his property as being bordered on the west side by the Ashburton River, and stretching along it down to Hakatere Huts, a popular home for the retired and a holiday base for many hut holders.

The most important improvement made on the farm was underground irrigation. It was put in about 10 years ago when finance was at a much cheaper rate than now.

Sharing the concern of most underground or spray irrigators, Mr Bennett hoped that power

prices did not stop the use of irrigation plants. Farmers had made very significant capital commitments to irrigation and put a lot of physical and mental effort into it before deciding to proceed, he said.

His English Leicester stud was founded in 1920 by his father, Mr Alex Bennett. He bought 53 ewes from Alex Drummond.

It was the stud which brought Harold Bennett into the show ring and the A. and P. Association. His first job at a show was repairing bluegum hurdles, then he gradu-

ated to looking after the Border-Leicester section.

His expertise with the English Leicesters has been recognised by his appointment to judge many shows in New Zealand, and in Australia where he judged the Melbourne Sheep Show. He eyes with pride his overseas judge’s badge.

Australian interest in his breed saw him sell a one-shear ram recently to a breeder in Victoria. The breed had become more sought after since the lustre wool became valuable.

“In our farming management they grow a heavy fleece at a good price,” Mr Bennett said.

He is also past chairman of the New Zealand English Leicester committee and represents the. breed on the national Sheepbreeders ’ Council from the No. 2 District. In 1979 his stud flocks’ wool clip topped the New

Zealand sales in Christchurch, selling at 309 c per kg. This season, the hogget wool sold for 453 c and the bale average was $Bll each.

Mr Bennett said he saw the A. and P. Association always trying to retain its show as a local enterprise. Each section had a member on the committee, or a co-opted person

and stewards, to help judges and write up placings. One major shift of emphasis was the encouragement of sponsorship and advertising. These had taken over from the traditional cups, trophies and nominal prize monies. As a committee representing both Ashburton town and county, it had the community at large to draw on for help and for goodwill. Both were readily available.

The stud stocks had always been a hall mark at shows, and he was particularly pleased to see increases in the sheep and wool entries at the show, today and tomorrow. The show will be officially opened by the official guest, Mr Paul Cleveland, the American Ambassador to New Zealand. Attending with his wife, the ambassador will conduct the opening at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.