But since he returned to work with David and Jackie two years ago, those ideas have led the Stodarts to better results — and a well-deserved national win in Silver Fern Farms’ 2024 Plate to Pasture supplier awards.
"Their dedication to sustainable farming and knowledge of the NZFAP Plus Gold standards, paired with their focus on continuous improvement really stood out for our judges," noted the company’s annual report.
The award was a "pretty proud moment", David said.
"We thought we were just ordinary farmers getting on with our work," he reflected.
"To have our agent rock up and give us this plaque and tell us that we were regional winners ... we were pretty happy to just stay there, but yeah, we went even further."
It was also vindication for new approaches, including technology, farm data, sustainability, and supply contracts, that have been embraced at Crown Lea.
Having worked as a stock agent for Silver Fern Farms, Shaun had the industry insight necessary to move the family’s operation forward.
"He was a big part in us doing all that," Jackie said.
"He could see the benefits, and he knew what was available. Since then, Shaun’s been right behind me really pushing it."
"I was a wee bit resistant on the NZFAP Plus stuff for a start," David admitted.
"But then once I went to the conference and saw all the ins and outs of it, I changed my mind quite quickly."
The Stodarts bought Crown Lea in 2012, and later added the adjacent Mararoa and Titiroa blocks to the operation. Now 750ha, the farm between the Takitimu Range and Lake Manapouri runs deer, sheep, and beef, boasting 2800 ewes, 750 hoggets, 120 beef cattle, 100 dairy heifers, 686 hinds, and 220 velveting stags.
Both Jackie and David grew up on the eastern side of the Takitimus, in Ohai and Avondale respectively. They married in 1989 and lived in Avondale, where David and his brothers ran the family farm after his father’s death.
In 2006 the couple bought an adjacent farm of their own, and later another property at Mossburn. Crown Lea enabled them to consolidate the operation.
Early on they had the benefit of good advice from the late Southland stock agent Trevor Wilson, who had been the trustee of David’s father estate.
"He played quite a big part in everywhere we’ve gone and everything we’ve done," David said.
"He used to bounce a lot of ideas off us."
It’s important to have an open mind to everything when it comes to farming, Jackie said. While it can be tough being challenged by new thinking, it can be immensely rewarding.
The work the Stodarts have put into protecting wetlands, native planting, and water monitoring at Crown Lea in conjunction with Environment Southland is a prime example of that.
Their forward-thinking ethos, which led to last year’s Plate to Pasture win, is even inscribed on the wall of the farm’s workshop: “To passionately develop and improve our land and livestock to secure our family’s future”.
— Gavin Bertram
