Rob was born and raised in Culverden in a sheep farming family so the show is in his blood, with an uncle and a grandfather having been show presidents through the years.
He has been regularly involved in the Amuri A&P Association, helping at the show and serving on the committee.
Rob met Trish while travelling overseas, with the pair returning to settle in Culverden in the early 1990s.
Trish is one of the local veterinarians and a director at the Culverden branch of North Canterbury Veterinary Clinics.
They run a 530-hectare irrigated dairy farm and run-off just 3km from Culverden, with contract milkers Brett and Kathryn Langford milking 1380 cows.
Young stock are managed at the run-off and at the couple’s dryland sheep and beef farm, Timpendean, at Waikari, managed by Sean Dobbs and Nicky Mathews.
Rob and Trish have three sons, with eldest son Alexander returning home to help at the show after a stint milking sheep in Ireland, before going to work on a cattle ranch in Montana.
Their middle son Fergus is travelling overseas, working in France, while youngest son Lachie is in his third year studying agricultural commerce at Lincoln University. He will be back to help at the show.
“We feel the show is an integral part of the Amuri community, and the way everyone pulls together to help at working bees and manning different areas on show day is testament to how strong and close-knit this community is, in which we are incredibly fortunate to live,’’ Rob says.
‘‘We also want to acknowledge the support of the sponsors, tradespeople, the judges, marshalls, stewards and volunteers, and in particular our new secretary Kim Balcombe and our treasurer Meg Macfarlane and the show committee for their great support.
‘‘We couldn’t do this job without all of these people pulling together and donating their time to ensure we have a wonderful, action-packed, entertaining day showcasing the Amuri region.’’
Rob and Trish wish to thank the donating farmers of the gift lamb and gift calf schemes, because of their huge importance towards funding the show each year.
