Faithfully farmed for 140 years

The Boler family farm at Wharehine was the venue for a lower north community field day last month.

The 330-hectare farm which borders the Kaipara Harbour has been farmed by the family since 1870, when Samuel Boler purchased the original block of 120 acres which he farmed until 1894. Between 1894 and 1932 the size of the farm was increased to 635 acres, under Alfred S Boler, with a further 150 acres being purchased by brothers Douglas and Ivan in the 1960s to bring it up to its current acreage.

Today, Douglas and Ivan farm the property jointly with Ivan’s two sons, Alan and Michael. They run shorthorn cattle, Romney sheep and rear a few dairy/beef calves.
The family opened the property up to around 50 of their peers during the Meat and Wool NZ-supported field day, which was convened by Lower Northland Monitor farm facilitator Bob Thomson.

Mr Thomson told the gathering that the challenge was to investigate ways of raising the Boler family’s farm income so that it could generate enough revenue to support four families, in the event of Alan and Michael marrying in the “not too distant future”.
After a presentation on the property’s past and present farming practices, its soil type, contour, stocking rates and fertiliser history, the group toured the farm.

Participants then split into four groups to brainstorm ways to raise farm income and assure the farm’s future success when, eventually the senior Bolers pass the baton to the next generation.

Mr Thomson praised Douglas and Ivan for providing Alan and Michael with a “beautiful platform” on which to build the business.

“What a fantastic opportunity you have created for them. You are conservative in your approach and have faithfully farmed this property. Now might be the time to think about your future and let the young guard make the decisions.”

He thanked the family for hosting the field day, which was the first one held in the history of the property.

“It’s a huge thing to do, opening up your farm to the scrutiny of others, and we are happy to have had this wonderful opportunity.”

A breakdown of the groups’ findings will be collated for the family’s consideration, he said.

Image: Four farmers, one family. From left, Alan, Michael, Ivan and Douglas Boler, of Wharehine.