Most recently he has been the extension specialist for AgBoard, formerly the Clutha Agricultural Development Board, but before that he spent more than 30 years working with the district's farmers in one way or another.
Mr Pringle's father was a milkman in Dunedin, before the family moved to Kauru Hill, in North Otago, to a sheep and beef farm.
He attended Waitaki Boys' High School and then Lincoln College before gaining work experience on various farms.
''Back then there was a Department of Agriculture chap, who knew my dad, who wrote to me saying there might be a job in South Otago,'' Mr Pringle said.
Although he already had a position elsewhere, he decided to accept the job with the ministry in Balclutha.
His wife Denise was a pharmacist, and they had two daughters.
They originally intended to stay in South Otago for two or three years, then go home to take over the family farm, but more than 40 years on, they are still here.
''I started with the ministry in 1972 and I would go around farmers looking at their sheep and helping them select young ones.
''That was about the start of the national record flock recording sheep plan, the early days of looking at genetics.''
Since then he worked as a sheep and beef consultant for the ministry in its various incarnations, from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries to Maf Tech.
The consultation unit was eventually sold to Wrightson.
With every change of name he had to reapply for his job and there was a change of uniform.
''I have a good supply of shirts now.''
During the early years of his career, farmers struggled to get 100% lambing and a breeding push targeted percentage rates and weights, he said.
Mr Pringle was also involved with the introduction and sale of exotic sheep breeds, including Texels, as well as AI and superovulation of ewes.
''I used to have field days, trundling around the country and preparing barbecues for tasting the meat.''
Breeding societies were introduced, with Romney and Coopworth development groups being established and discussion groups started, and he and other consultants worked closely with AgResearch at Invermay.
One of the bigger changes came in the mid-1980s when they had to start charging for the consultation services, which previously had been free, he said.
That was also about the time of ''Rogernomics'', and as a result some farmers lost their farms.
In the late 1990s, the consultants were moved to the city and his position was disestablished.
As neither he nor Denise had a job at that time, they considered leaving Balclutha, but he was offered a job with the Clutha Agricultural Development Board (CADB) in 2005.
''It was my dream job,'' he said.
He worked with project manager Malcolm Deverson on projects such as green thistle beetle distribution, the use of willow foliage as fodder, the introduction and distribution of clover root weevil, grass grub management and a study looking at the effect of probiotics on calf weight gain.
They were also involved with the Clutha Sheep Farmer of the Year competition,various Beef and Lamb New Zealand field days and Farmsafe.
He remained with the CADB until the Clutha District Council reduced its funding in favour of the Clutha Development Trust.
In an attempt to keep the board going, Mr Deverson has been working voluntarily from home and Mr Pringle is semiretired.
He does some consultancy work and delivers land and environment plan workshops for Beef and Lamb.
However, as spare time allows, he and Mrs Pringle enjoy exploring the walks around the region and he has more time to catch up with home maintenance.
''I've changed bosses,'' he said.
They also enjoy being involved in car rallies and skiing and he is an Anglican lay minister.
They have four grandchildren.
''Everything changes, so just keep swinging with the punches,'' he said.
- Yvonne O'Hara