These are Bevan McKnight’s greeting words as he welcomes us in his world, a world of passion, daily commitment, a strong sense of duty and a deep respect for the land, the animals and natural resources.

This passion is shared with his stunning family and his wife Tiffany first and foremost; more than a life companion, she is a business partner with whom he shares joys as well as goals as part of a life defined by sustainability and respect for the environment.

We are in New Zealand, Central Otago, more specifically at the Merino Ridges and Northburn Station farms.

How did this passion come about? The answer lies in Australia, where Bevan started off on his journey 12 years ago:

Strong with this 12-year experience, Bevan returned to New Zealand to take charge of the family farm and pursue his farming career with a more conscious and richer outlook.

Through his words, it is clear just how much dedication this level of passion requires, and the adaptability that comes with unexpected events, challenging weather and everyday obstacles.

Working on the farm offers its fair share of rewards however: “Getting to shearing time, every August, and seeing the years’ worth of work accumulate in the woolshed is my highlight. I also enjoy the challenge of having our ewes in premium condition all year round to enable us to have a good lambing and good wool cuts” confirms Bevan.

What does a typical day look like on the farm? “I meet and talk to my employees here and discuss the week ahead with input from everyone then we make a plan and go from there. Mostly our week revolves around animal health and monitoring condition of animals and feed levels, sometimes this is shifting blocks, cutting winter supplements, drilling pastures for the following season, or administering animal health products.”

Monitoring animal welfare and their physical health plays a fundamental role and is therefore a guiding principle in the farm’s day-to-day activities, as is protecting the land and its natural resources. “Sustainability to me is leaving the farm better than when we found it. For example, developing more hill tussock country, looking after our waterways, planting native trees and growing more organic matter in the soils to capture the rainfall we receive” says Bevan.

Bevan and Tiffany work and raise their children with the utmost passion and a desire to teach those strong values at the core of farm life: “A good work ethic, a passion for good Merino wool, good animal husbandry and a passion for looking after the land” concludes Bevan.