Enjoying the challenge, and the grand country

After Jack Cartridge joined PGG Wrightson in June 2021, he spent 14 months as a trainee in North and South Canterbury, graduating to the role of livestock agent in Murchison in August.

Although he found the new role daunting at the start, he enjoys the challenge.

“I’ve learnt from plenty of experienced colleagues. I’ve seen that everyone has their own approach, and their different views. With exposure to Temuka and Canterbury Park saleyards, plus working everywhere from high country stations to finishing farms, knowing how different people do deals and conduct their business, I was ready to go for it myself.

“This is a remote and wide area. My patch stretches from Tapawera, to Springs Junction, to Westport, so organising your day, working out when you are going to see clients, is always a challenge. I spend at least half the time driving. That is a great time to think through and process what to do for certain clients. Driving through the region’s beautiful, grand scenery is pretty unreal. However, being a big region, transporting small numbers of livestock can also be another challenge.”

Growing up on his parents’ Fielding lifestyle block, agriculture was always Jack’s future. He worked on farms during school holidays, and headed to Massey University after leaving school.

After graduating with an agricultural science degree, he worked for three years on an Agresearch finishing farm in Aorangi, Manawatu, where he was hands on farming on research projects aiming to improve agriculture.

In his new role, Jack enjoys working with farmers.

“I love helping my clients succeed, buying and selling livestock and looking to achieve the best result for them. If you do something well, and your client appreciates it, if they tell you you’re going good, that they are happy with the experience, that is a big morale booster,” he says.

As a young guy with 40 years or more of his career ahead of him, Jack expects to see some changes.

“Biosecurity and environmental sustainability will become even more important. Farmers need to be open about their systems so we can collectively promote our produce, emphasising our clean, green qualities. Technology is likely to become more sophisticated, particularly to help streamline and improve traceability,” he says.

Climate change is another issue Jack expects will play a big part in his future career.

“I’m sure it’s something I’ll need to talk about with clients. One theme I’m already pushing is to get out and about, and to see how everyone else is getting on,” says Jack.

Aside from work, Jack is into golf, hunting and fishing.

“Another major benefit of Murchison: it’s not difficult to find a great hunting spot,” he says.

He’s also looking for a lease block, where he can run a few animals, and develop the extra perspective of ‘skin in the game’ when advising or working with other farmers.