Jeff Farm

07/09/2026

We’ve been a bit quiet on here – but it certainly hasn’t been quiet on farm! 🐑🌧️

It’s been a busy few months at Jeff Farm, with plenty of work, learning and some great opportunities for our cadets along the way.

We’ve had legends Paul Collins and Todd Rowland out for working dog training woth the cadets, hosted our local maiden dog trials alongside the Warepa and Tahatika Collie Clubs where the first year cadets all had their maiden run with their heading dogs, hosted a dead-lamb/post-mortem workshop with Beef + Lamb New Zealand Southern South Island and VetSouth, and spent time with Ravensdown learning more about soils, nutrients and fertiliser.

We also welcomed National MP Joseph Mooney to Jeff Farm for a visit and a look around.

On farm, all the ewes have now been through the conveyor for their pre-lamb 5-in-1 vaccinations and oral mineral drench, and have been sorted into mobs ready for set stocking.

Spring has arrived with its typical wild weather, and we’ve been really proud of the resilience the cadets and staff have shown – turning up each day in some fairly miserable conditions, keeping stock fed and shifting them to better shelter wherever possible.

Once everything is hunkered down for lambing and calving, there’s plenty more ahead. We have a personal finance session with ASB Bank, a shearing course with Stacey Te Huia, and hopefully some fencing, gorse spraying and more progress on the new cattle yards.

It’s a busy time of year, but plenty of learning is happening along the way – stay tuned for our 2027 cadet selection announcement!

30/07/2026

We're loving reading through all of your cadet applications – thank you! 👏

It's fantastic to see so many enthusiastic young people wanting to start their farming careers.

If you've been thinking about applying, there's still time... but don't leave it until the last minute!

⏰ Applications close Monday 10 August at 4.00pm.

Head to our website to submit your application, where you'll also find our countdown banner ticking away the final days! 🌱🐑🚜

We can't wait to meet the next group of Jeff Farm cadets.

👉 https://jefffarm.salvationarmy.org.nz/cadetships/

13/07/2026

📢 Jeff Farm Cadet Open Day – This Friday! 🌿🐑🐄

We're looking forward to welcoming everyone who has registered for our Jeff Farm Cadet Open Day this Friday 17 July.

🕙 10.00am – Arrive, register, enjoy a light morning tea and have a chance to meet the Jeff Farm team.

🕥 10.30am – Our formal presentation will begin, followed by demonstrations and a tour of the farm.

With a number of registrations this year, priority seating on the farm tour will be given to prospective cadets travelling with our staff in Jeff Farm vehicles. Parents and supporters are very welcome to follow the farm tour in their own 4WD vehicle if they wish.

Please come prepared for Southland winter conditions:
🧥 Warm clothing
🥾 Gumboots or sturdy footwear
☔ A waterproof jacket if the forecast isn't looking friendly!

If you have any questions before Friday, feel free to get in touch.

Safe travels, and we look forward to meeting you all! 🚜🐑

02/07/2026

🤠 Could This Be Your Next Move?

Well... we couldn't keep him forever!

At the end of the month we'll be saying goodbye to Henry and Jazz as Henry takes up a Farm Manager position. While we'll be genuinely sad to see them go, we're incredibly grateful for everything they've contributed to Jeff Farm over the past few years and wish them both all the very best for this exciting next chapter.

With that comes an exciting opportunity for someone new to join the Jeff Farm team as our Stock Manager.

This is a hands-on leadership role on our progressive sheep, beef and deer farming operation, working alongside our General Manager and helping mentor the next generation of young farmers through our cadet programme.

If you're passionate about livestock, enjoy developing people, have an eye for detail, and take pride in doing the little things well, we'd love to hear from you.

📍 Kaiwera, Southland

📄 For the full position description and application details, click the link below: https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/jobs/agriculture-fishing-forestry/farming/southland/gore/full-time/listing/6014198381

Please feel free to share this opportunity with anyone you think would be a great fit.

12/06/2026

What have our Jeff Farm cadets been up to lately?

Over the past month the cadets have been involved in a huge range of practical farming activities and training opportunities across the farm.

They've completed chainsaw training through Mike Hurring Logging, gaining NCEA credits while developing valuable skills they'll carry throughout their farming careers.

In the paddock, they've been busy with deer weaning, heifer vaccinations, fencing off waterways, ewe mating, and assisting with winter stock management planning. They've also been busy in the classroom ticking off Primary ITO fencing training, combining practical skills with formal learning.

The cadets have attended bull sales to learn more about cattle genetics, selection and purchasing decisions, while continuing to grow out and finish our prime cattle. Another 40 cattle headed out the gate this week, a great result for the team.

Crop yields have been measured, winter grazing plans completed, and all remaining lambs left the farm last month. A massive achievement this season was selling approximately 80% of the 2025-born lamb crop prime (excluding replacements), despite the ongoing challenge of managing triple drench resistance on farm.

One of the things we're most proud of at Jeff Farm is giving cadets exposure to the wider picture of farming. Alongside practical skills, they gain insight into how management decisions around stock, feed, genetics, environment and farm systems all contribute to the success of the business.

Now, as ewe mating draws to an end, we begin shearing the ewes and transitioning stock onto winter crops.

Bring on the silly string season! 🫜🐑

11/05/2026

Thinking about a future in farming? 🚜🐑

Jeff Farm’s 2026 Cadetship Open Day is happening on **Friday 17 July at 10am** and we’d love to meet young people interested in hands-on sheep, beef and deer farm training and life on a working Southland farm.

Come along to learn more about our two-year cadetship programme, meet the team, look around the farm, and ask questions about what the cadetship involves. Parents and supporters are welcome too.

📍 64 Jeff Farm Road, Southland (directly off State Highway 93)
🕙 Friday 17 July 2026 | 10am

Please wear suitable farm clothing and footwear.

To help us with catering and planning, please register your interest online here:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=hZ9VLjD9b0CviJixQ0dmeTGYfeYHQDdPqQBmD3GxhYtUQTFETFIyVFdKV0RCNlpBREtWTlVQQjJJTS4u

For more information about the cadetship programme, visit:
https://jefffarm.salvationarmy.org.nz/

23/04/2026

Nice one Ben Fifield!

It was back to where it all began when former Jeff Farm cadet Ben Fifield and his dog Mick competed at the Otago Sheep Dog Trial Centre’s final...