Current owner of the farm Murray Jackson. Photo/ Supplied
Current owner of the farm Murray Jackson. Photo/ Supplied
One hundred years of memories and farm ownership were celebrated earlier this month.
The Kupe Farm, located 10 kilometres northeast of Stratford, has been owned by the Jackson family for the past century.
The farmis currently owned by Murray Jackson. Murray says he invited friends, family and old neighbours to the farm to celebrate the centenary.
"We had over 100 people turn up on the day. We held a family church service, a farm quiz and took the guests on tours of the farm. It was a lovely day. My wife Kay and I thoroughly enjoyed it."
Over 100 people attended the Kupe Farm centenary. Photo/ Supplied
He says planning for the celebration started in 2019.
"Back in 2019 Kay put on a surprise birthday party for me at Te Popo Gardens. We invited my uncle John and other members of my family. I quite like spending time with uncle John.
"Him and I started talking about the farm and realised it was coming up to 100 years of the family owning it. He said 'we have to organise a centennial event to celebrate'. My sister Anne McLeod helped a lot with the planning side. It was a whole family effort."
The farm was purchased by members of the Jackson family in 1921.
"My grandfather William and his twin brother Raymond fought in the first world war. At that time the family had sold their farm in Featherston. The twin brothers still wanted a farm so they travelled to Kihikihi in Waikato. They decided they didn't like the land there so they kept travelling until they reached Stratford."
At the time the farm in Te Popo was owned by the Mackey family. The Mackey family built a house on the farm made from native timber in 1904.
"Over the years I have maintained, repaired, painted, and modified the house."
William (left) and Raymond Jackson.
The brothers met an agent who took them out to the farm in Te Popo. William and Raymond purchased the farm with a no-interest loan for surviving World War I.
"The brothers were single at the time and lived in a little whare with two bunks, a fireplace and a tin chimney. Livestock on the farm consisted of 45 dairy cows, 513 ewes, 300 lambs, some rams, three horses, and three dogs. After a while they moved into the house."
After the brothers had taken possession of the farm, Raymond married Mary Robinson from Masterton and William married Ella Guppy who lived in Wharehuia.
"Ella then gave birth to Alan, my father. They had five other children called Esme, Marion, Evelyn, Vera and lastly, my uncle John. Raymond and Mary moved to Pohukura and purchased their own farm."
A painting of the woolshed.
Alan and John purchased the farm off their father William, running the farm under the name 'Jackson Brothers'.
"After a while my uncle John purchased his own farm in Otorohanga. The Kupe Farm was then solely owned by my father."
From left: Marion, Alan, Evelyn, and Esme Jackson.
When Murray was 16 he left Stratford High School to help his father on the farm.
"I worked there for some time before purchasing the farm off my father. Now the farm has 270 cattle, 3000 sheep, a few dogs, and a 40 hectare pine block."
He says the family has many fond memories at the farm.
"Most of my cousins stayed on the farm during the school holidays. There are a lot of treasured memories. When I was younger my neighbour took me to a Federated Farmers meeting in Wharehuia. I remember talking to a person named Llyod Hosking who could remember my grandfather Will and his twin brother Raymond."
John Jackson.
The centennial celebration took place in the farm's woolshed.
"It's quite a historic building. It's been there since William and Raymond purchased the farm. A lot of people like the rustic look of the building."
Murray says he believes the woolshed was the first in the district originally designed as a blade shearing shed.
The centennial celebration took place in the woolshed.
"Neighbours also did their shearing there. Later on a lister engine and three stand shearing shed were installed. The names of people who sheared sheep in the woolshed are painted on the roof and walls."
Murray says the centennial celebration went well.
"Everyone really enjoyed the celebration and it was a great way to celebrate an amazing achievement."