When the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club celebrated 100 years since the first game fish was caught, Bryce Hooton was the Star of the Tournament – 100 boats entered the tournament, one for each year of game fishing. Bryce caught the heaviest billfish, a weight of 136.3kg and the boat from which his fishing tournament adventure took place (Andiamo), won the most points for the 100-year historic tournament. Bryce’ s name is engraved on the beautiful Centennial trophy.
This was a remarkable achievement as Bryce is blind but that has not stopped him or his partner, Sue from aiming for and achieving the best in their work and leisure. They love being involved in this community moving from Matamata in 2016 to Coroglen.
Bryce tells the story of the lifestyle and business he and Sue began in 2016.
“We were beekeepers in Matamata. We loved beekeeping, but we were looking for another challenge. We had bought a block of land near Coroglen as the plan was to grow manuka trees for our bees. But now we had sold the business and needed to think differently about the future.
“So, in 2016 we bought some pedigree Herefords. I loved the breeding side of the bees. We used to breed a lot of our own queen bees.
“We decided with the Herefords that we would focus on the breeding side. We have bought in Australian semen and we have used three top sires from Australia. Nine years have passed and with those nine years of breeding, we have developed some awesome stock. Our herd is in the top ten percent of New Zealand Herefords.
Bryce is very straight about what he does well and what he needs help with. “I’m pretty good at artificial insemination, fencing, calving and I know the animals and always sense what is happening with them. They know me. It is frustrating that I can’t drive any of the farm vehicles and I need help with fence posting.
“Our decision to go with Hereford bulls for breeding was the best one for us. They are a beautiful, kind, easy breed to deal with. We are wrapped with this year’s bulls. Opne of the challenges with the whole breeding system is that the Gold studs think we are too young in terms of breeding to buy bulls from us but this is not true. Our bulls have about seventy years of breeding behind them.
“The bulls are suitable for stud farms right through to working for local dairy farmers. Easy calving, low birth weights, and high growth rates are indicative of the Hereford calves. We are also putting a lot of breeding effort and techniques into short gestation rates which suits the dairy farmers. Our bulls are thirteen months old and there are seventeen lots for sale.”
Hereford Yearling Bull Sale
The sale takes place this Saturday 30 August. Viewing is from 11.00am with the Auction starting at 1.00pm. The address is 69 A Hodge Road, Coroglen. Sue and Bryce will be there to greet you.
Enquiries to Bryce or Sue Ph: 0212 962 640
