Young farmers Andrew and Ani Leggett and their two daughters Isabella, 4, and Lily, 15 months, are enjoying their new venture growing sunflowers at Parua Bay. Photos / Katie Rose McGregor
Young farmers Andrew and Ani Leggett and their two daughters Isabella, 4, and Lily, 15 months, are enjoying their new venture growing sunflowers at Parua Bay. Photos / Katie Rose McGregor
Young farmers Andrew and Ani Leggett’s lives couldn’t be busier.
Each has a full-time job, they are parents to two pre-schoolers, and about 18 months ago they bought their first farm.
The property at 271 Pataua South Rd was previously a dairy farm, but they have been fattening and finishing beef cattle. And this summer they’ve also launched another venture on the land — sunflower tourism.
Like many young farming couples, they’ve got a “huge” mortgage, Ani said, but she is a digital marketing whizz for an animal health company and Andrew is a stock agent, so they never tire of thinking about innovative ways to diversify and increase their revenue streams.
“We’ve got so many ideas but so little time with two young kids and full-time jobs and running a farm.”
However, a trip to some friends’ sunflower farm in Hawkes Bay inspired them to try the same venture here. After all, there are no other sunflower farms in this region — the nearest is in Auckland, Ani said.
“We wanted an interesting crop that will be good cattle fodder at the end, which sunflowers are — they’re super high protein and rich in oils.
“We had to re-grass those paddocks anyway, so it seemed a low-risk, win-win venture for us.”
Last October, they hired a contractor to drill two varieties of sunflowers using a grass-sowing setting to create the most natural appearance possible, rather than rigid rows.
The plants burst into bloom in early January and on January 11, the Leggetts opened their Rukuwai Road Sunflower Field to their first crowd of weekend visitors.
Ani estimated they had hosted about 1000 visitors over two weekends and feedback had been nothing but positive.
Bad weather hasn't damaged the blooms or dampened the appeal of Rukuwai Road Sunflower Field, which has drawn about 1000 visitors in the two weekends its been open to date. Among its many features is this whimsical yellow doorway, a great prop for photographers. (Image at left supplied; image at right Dylan Halse)
“We’re just overwhelmed by the amount of people excited to come for a trip.”
Admission is $10 an adult and $5 for children and visitors can stay as long as they like for the day, Ani said.
There’s plenty to keep everyone entertained: fun games, a giant swing, a maze through the sunflowers, a whimsical yellow door, and cute photo frames for capturing memories.
People can buy ice creams or ice blocks, grab a souvenir from the merchandise stand, and enjoy lunch under the shade at picnic tables.
Flowers are available for sale and every visitor can choose and cut one free flower to take home.
It was fun to see little kids who cut the stems close to the ground, carting home a flower that was taller than them, Ani said.
She was pleased with how the community had got behind the venture, too.
“Lots of local kids have been helping and some of our cousins’ kids have been making cupcakes to sell. It’s been a really cool local effort.”
The field was also a drawcard for photographers, some coming out for special mini-sessions and sunset shoots in the evenings, Ani said.
The couple intend to continue the sunflower field next year, planning to have it open in time for out-of-town visitors at Christmas and New Year. And Ani already has a few ideas for how to make the field look even more stunning.
Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on a wide range of issues. She has nearly 20 years’ experience in journalism, much of which she spent court reporting in Gisborne and on the East Coast. She is passionate about covering stories that make a difference, especially stories about environmental issues.
