Tom Bresseleers, of Waipukurau, pets a calf at last year's Lindsay Farm Open Day, which drew 330 people to the Ashton family's dairy farm on Lindsay Rd in Waipukurau.
Tom Bresseleers, of Waipukurau, pets a calf at last year's Lindsay Farm Open Day, which drew 330 people to the Ashton family's dairy farm on Lindsay Rd in Waipukurau.
After a successful event last year, Lindsay Farm Dairy in Waipukurau is again opening its gates to the public on February 24.
Lindsay Farm is one of New Zealand's largest raw milk producers, and has won the Be Pure Paddock to Plate award in the Green Agriculture Innovation Awards.
"We had approximately 330 people attend last year and because it was such a success we have decided to run it again but with a few more things for kids to do to keep them occupied," said Ange Brooks, the eldest daughter of owners Paul and Christine Ashton.
Georgia Smith, of Ongaonga, was one of the many youngsters who enjoyed the waterslide last year.
Ange said there would be a colouring-in competition for the kids, who could name a calf and have photos taken with her at the open day.
"We are also going to have a waterslide, which will be loads of fun for everyone so we are telling everyone to bring togs.
"We also have Onga Onga School doing a fundraising barbecue and making smoothies, and the coffee cart will also be here," she said.
Lindsay Farm has been run organically for the past 13 years and has been producing raw milk for the past nine.
Lara, Tilda and Kate Worsnop with herd manager Michael Ashton at last year's Lindsay Farm Open Day.
Ange said the open day would give people a chance to see how the 100ha family-owned-and-operated farm worked, including how the cows were milked and how the milk was bottled.
The property has 100 cows with about 50 in milk at one time and calving all year round. Milking is once a day and the cows have little or no stress, supporting the Ashtons' principle that happy cows produce healthy milk.
"We deliver the milk around Hawke's Bay, and also as far as Auckland and Gisborne," said Ange. Because of the introduction of new regulations around the sale of raw milk, Ange said the business model for the farm changed last year.
"The new legislation doesn't want milk delivered to delivery points, which is impractical for us. So we have created a farm partnership which people sign up to at no cost and they become partners in the ownership of the herd of cows.
What that means is they pay us to take care of their cows and milk them, and volunteers of the partnership deliver the milk to a collection point of their choice. So we don't sell raw milk, but offer people a service." Ange said people loved the idea of owning the cows. "Urban people especially love the opportunity to come on to a working farm.
And it's made even better for them knowing they are a part of owning the cows," she said. Open day, noon to 4pm, Saturday, February 24, at 600 Lindsay Rd. RSVP by February 20 by emailing info@yourmilk.nz
