A PGG Wrightson Livestock representative with a unique backstory, and a separate thriving business in Japan, which has rebounded from Covid. 

Most new recruits to PGG Wrightson Livestock come in with an agriculture background. Although Ross MacDonald is no exception, his particular agriculture background is a little different.

Now a sheep and beef livestock representative in King Country, much of his previous experience is in Japan, where Ross and wife Janis established a business staging live shows to put New Zealand-style agriculture in front of audiences totalling hundreds of thousands of intrigued Japanese spectators, as he explains.

“We showed the Japanese public a slice of New Zealand rural life in a fun, informative way.

“In Japan the perception of animals is that they are basically pets. They come along to our show wanting to get back to nature. Seeing working dogs gives them a totally different perspective.

“Presenting a farm show with shearing, horses, and gimmicks like whip cracking and dogs working ducks, our audiences leave the show thoroughly entertained, and with an enduring positive impression of New Zealand,” he says.

Ross and Janis went to Japan in 1992. By that stage their farming background, initially including shearing, deer, sheep and beef and dairy, had evolved into demonstrating agriculture to tourists visiting this country.

“While I was a pretty good shearer, to stop my body falling to bits, I promised myself I would move on from shearing before I was 30. We could see how much the Japanese enjoyed the shows we were putting on here, and decided to find out if we could take it more directly to them in Japan,” he says.

Mainly in Chiba Prefecture, also Hyogo, Kobe, they immersed themselves in Japanese life for nine years as they built the business, partnering with the likes of theme parks, tourist farms and safari parks, becoming part of bigger attractions, at the height operating in six different locations.

“Putting on the shows is exhilarating, though mentally demanding. You must be the front man, put yourself out there: entertain. Working with live animals while being miked up, a lot of things happen, and there are plenty of funny moments. Sometimes it takes a while to get the crowd in the palm of your hand, then when you have them there, it’s great, and you can do anything. Although most of our performers have an interpreter, I have the language and was able to do the shows on my own.

“Over the years we have employed more than 50 kiwi shepherds and shearers as entertainers, performing in and presenting our shows. It has been truly satisfying to train them and see them grow as entertainers and people. Presenting shows in venues like the World Trade Centre, Osaka; the New Zealand Embassy; and on the top of a central Tokyo high rise building has been a wonderful experience.”

In 2003 they made the move back to New Zealand, keeping the business going with frequent trips to Japan. In early 2020 however, when the covid lockdowns hit, that came to a halt.

“I was there at the time and managed to make it onto one of the last planes out,” he says.

As the world gradually came back to normal, Ross took on the PGG Wrightson Livestock role. He’s done that for four years now, while he and Janis have also reanimated the business in Japan, which they were able to pick up again in 2023. Now he runs the two roles alongside each other.

“We don’t operate in Japan between December and March, and the rest of the year I go back and forth every two or three months. In this day and age, with technology and communications, it’s easy to keep in touch with our staff in Japan, and when I go there, I always keep my phone on, so when my livestock clients need me, that’s easy too. Keeping everything tidy like that is much easier than having to catch up when you come back."

“Farmers know what they are doing, and I don’t presume to be a farm advisor. To be effective in livestock, you need to stay up to date with ever changing markets. Once you’ve established what a farmer’s needs are, you then buy and sell appropriately on the market to meet those needs, knowing when to move to do your best by them. Timing is crucial,” says Ross.

Aside from the ongoing Japanese venture, and his King Country livestock clients, Ross and Janis have a small sheep and beef property just out of Te Kuiti, and he’s a keen golfer, particularly on what he claims is the world’s best course.

“Piopio Aria Golf Club. I’m on the course committee, so I have to say that. It’s a lovely country course. Our main responsibility as the course committee is to manage the 450 ewes that the club owns. We use them to graze parts of the course, which is preferable to mowing it,” he says.

Lets talk Livestock! Contact your local rep to explore opportunities tailored to your farming goals.