James Stewart had a few concerns about hosting the general public on his Manawatu farm, but he need not have worried.
"It was a really positive experience. A lot more positive than I was thinking it was going to be."
Stewart Dairies was one of the 16 properties that took part in Fonterra's Open Gates initiative yesterday, where farmers welcome the general public to spend a day on the farm.
Around 600 people turned up to Stewart Dairies, which is an 800 cow operation in the Manawatu. Stewart told The Country's Rowena Duncum that kids and their parents particularly enjoyed a day on the farm.
"The tractors were a huge hit ... kids just wouldn't get out of them, and for the parents [it was] a big photo op."