But one of Nick and Alexis Wadworth’s three key values at Bare Hill Farming is "kaizen", the Japanese business philosophy that focuses on continuous improvement. That sits along courage and stewardship.
Their nomination lauded the couple’s "huge" presence in their community groups, contributing to catchment groups, training and local initiatives.
"Regenerative and sustainable focus but with a common sense boots-on-the-ground mindset," it read.
Bare Hill Farm spans 2000ha but only 800ha is effective. They run about 3700 ewes, 1200 hoggets and 300 breeding cows.
From Taranaki, Alexis met Nick at Lincoln University, where she did a commerce degree in agriculture. Nick had been working as an engineer before his tertiary studies.
Then they went their separate ways; Nick overseas and Alexis to start a banking career in Waikato before they ended up in Southland. Nick wanted to give farming a crack on his family property about the same time a banking job arose for Alexis.
They eventually bought the farm from Nick’s parents in 2020. Their 3-year-old junior shepherdess Addison — who wants to be a tractor driver when she grows up — is the sixth generation of the family to work on the farm.
The couple’s purpose statement was redefining possibilities together and Alexis said the "together" part was key, particularly during the early part of their career, using the community and the people around them, their farming team and each other to achieve that — "not just doing the same old, same old, and expecting things to be different".
Community is important to the couple and they try to limit themselves to three volunteer things each.
Nick is on the southern South Island Ospri committee, the Otapiri Hall committee and the Browns Sports Day committee, an event where Addison won the baby show.
He was also involved with organising the Kuana farm discussion group and was overdue to organise a catch-up, visiting different properties.
Both were involved with the Makarewa headwaters catchment group, which Alexis chaired.
Alexis is also heavily involved with netball; she is umpire co-ordinator at the Central Southland Netball Centre and a member of the centre’s management committee. She is also an umpire and coach assessor.
And she seemed to "just jump on and off relevant working groups as they pop up. Anything from Thriving Southland through to Beef + Lamb to local women in a farming group. I tend to pick these up as I’m able".
Sustainability was as much about their own farm performance and environmental sustainability as it was about a sustainable community and they wanted to ensure there was "something there" for their daughter in the future.
"We’ve both been so fortunate to have some pretty amazing mentors or people willing to jump in and share their knowledge with us. If there’s aspects we can offer ... different skill sets ... it’s about doing it as much to give back as anything else," Alexis said.
They had a farm Instagram page which started to keep friends and family up to date and led to developing an "amazing" online community which they shared the highs and lows of life on the land with.
Nick enjoyed being self-employed and liked the quote "farming is what you make of it".
They were creating their own destiny, making the calls as to what direction they wanted to take their operation and it was always the challenge that got them out of bed in the morning, his wife added.
Alexis may have been a self-described import to the area but she loved life in the South and its rural communities.
"A really unique group of people live down here ... and just get it.
"They’re looking out for each other, whether dropping off food to someone who’s had a hard time or donating farm supplies or whatever to help somebody through a rough patch.
"Just that understanding and supporting each other, it’s never a problem. I think that’s pretty special."
