It is with these greeting words that Francine Hore welcomes us to Stonehenge Farm, in New Zealand, words that immediately capture the central role the family has always played on the farm. Family and a deep bond with nature are the core values upon which Stonehenge operates, under the watchful eye of Andrew and Francine Hore. Their work, passion and special relationship with nature are part of a precious inheritance that will one day be passed on to their children. When asked “What are the values you most want to pass on to your children?” Andrew answers without a shadow of a doubt “The first is ‘respect for the land’. The second is, when working with livestock don’t have too much of a rigid plan, lastly - kiss your wife.”

Andrew boasts an unquestionably glorious past: an elite rugby player, he spent 11 years on the field with the New Zealand All Blacks while Francine enjoyed a career in academia and management consulting, both of which are now especially useful on the farm. “Being in the leadership group of the All Blacks and captaining Super teams helped with my leadership skills but also fostered an unwavering commitment to giving 110% and always aiming for excellence. Travelling the world broadened my view to a range of ways of doing things and deepened my passion for this land that we call home” says Andrew of the years spent with the All Blacks.

Both now channel their previous experiences and skills to conduct all farm-related activities, which have now become a full-time occupation, one they wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to alongside their children. Family really is what it is all about for Andrew and Francine, as transpires through their every word; every achievement, from the smallest to the greatest, is celebrated by all and everyone plays their own part.

Andrew and Francine do not view farm life as a mere occupation, but as a true lifestyle. A lifestyle they share with their children, one that requires constant passion and commitment.

Stonehenge was purchased in 1910 by the Hore family, who has since managed and protected this magnificent land. In 2014 Andrew and Francine decided to fully dedicate themselves to the farm, which has now become their biggest satisfaction. “Shearing time is very satisfying as 12 months of hard work pays off, you hope” says Andrew. “My greatest pleasures are enjoying the landscape and the children as you work. I regularly drive Andrew crazy by stopping a job to take a nice picture or to help the kids climb up on some rocks” observes Francine.Days at Stonehenge start the way they would with any other family. “I start every day with a cook breakfast and meeting up the team to plan the day. Farming offers infinite variety, everyday has new challenges and new rewards” states Andrew. “For me my days are very varied between helping on the farm, cooking for everyone on the farm, compliance work and accounts, through to off-farm meetings and academic research projects” adds Francine. The all-importance of family goes hand in hand with sustainability and respect for the environment, as a way to protect the land for the next generations. “The whole point of us farming this land is to provide for future generations, not merely a way of continuing to make a living, but to ensure this land is as spectacular now as it always has been and always will be.”