Committed to giving an honest opinion

Manawatu local Andrew Leggett has been a PGG Wrightson Livestock representative based in Feilding since March 2018. Along with his family he has shifted to Northland, and later this month will resume his role with the company, now operating out of Whangarei, servicing the east coast north of Whangarei and central parts of the area northwest of the city.

Putting deals together is what Andrew most enjoys in life as a livestock rep.

“Setting up a situation where you have a happy buyer and a happy seller, dealing with good people around it all, makes the job worthwhile. 

“Signing up a herd contract is a great example, making sure the cows are at the condition scores they are supposed to be as they go on the truck, so a transaction is all planned out and everything goes well: that is really satisfactory.”

Making a difference for the businesses he deals with is another highlight.

“Being involved in decision making, coming together to give advice and ensure it works out, knowing that you’ve made a positive impact on their business, leaving your client happy, that is the best experience in the job,” Andrew says.

Out of school Andrew went to work on farms for a couple of years, first at Riversdale Beach, Wairarapa; then out of Gisborne.

“I enjoyed shepherding, it’s a great lifestyle, though it didn’t pay a lot of money, and I realised I needed a degree.”

Graduating from Lincoln in 2012 with a Bachelor in Agriculture, Andrew was accepted into the PGG Wrightson trainee programme in January 2014, which he completed before heading overseas, returning to Feilding and the company.

“Although it can be wet, and helping farmers offload cattle before that time of year can be a challenge, Manawatu is outstanding for farming. 

“I really enjoy how the region is a meeting place for both ends of the farming spectrum, where the breeding districts such as Taihape and Hunterville come together with the finishing farms of Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay.

“One of the biggest positives is the great selling centre in Feilding. Manawatu farmers don’t realise how lucky they are to have two days of sales per week. If they need to free up some cash, with a sale coming around every few days there is an opportunity to sell stock and do that very soon,” he says.

Dealing with increased compliance is the issue that will define his generation of farmers, Andrew reckons.

“Farmers rely on us as their agents to give advice on compliance, particularly related to Nait. That will only become harder as the years go on. Farmers need to learn what is required, and the younger generation in particular needs to understand the rules and play the game,” he says.

Andrew and his wife Ani, plus two and a half year old daughter Isabelle and their second child, due in October, are moving north to take over her family’s 80 hectare Parua Bay beef block. Ani’s rural background includes her career in digital marketing, which she will continue in a remote capacity for her employer Allflex. 

Andrew is looking forward to meeting his new clients, a mix of Northland dairy and beef trading farmers previously serviced by Ian Munro. 

“I think they’ll find I’m a pretty easy person to read. When I’ve had feedback in the past, farmers I work with tend say that they appreciate an honest opinion, which I always give, and that I’m not trying to make a sale just for the sake of it. I’m looking forward to offering the same approach to my new clients.”

Andrew starts in his new patch in mid-June. Andrew’s father Tony Leggett is well known in the rural sector as the owner of NZ Farm Life Media, publisher of Countrywide and NZ Dairy Exporter.