Mike Lucey

Equity Farm Manager - Terimicow Holdings

Prior to going to Lincoln University I had travelled extensively in the USA, Australia and England. My farming experience and ambition at the time had involved sheep and beef farming and machinery.

While at Lincoln University completing my B Com (Ag) degree I decided, that on completion of my studies, dairying was to be my career path.

I was first introduced to Leo Donkers and Terry Kilday, the Manager of Willsden farm, while still at University. On completing my degree I began working at Willsden as a dairy assistant, where I learned many of the basic dairy farming skills as well as the specific skills needed to manage a large dairy farm. During my three years at Willsden I was promoted to the position of Assistant Manager. It was while working a Willsden that I became very interested in the business and financial aspects of dairy farming and with the help of the Camden Group I was able to develop my understanding of these aspects of dairy farming.

In 2008 I was given the opportunity to put my business and farming skills to the test when the Camden Group, Terry Kilday and I established a joint venture equity partnership called Terimicow Holdings Ltd.

Terimicow got the job of 50% sharemilking the 200ha Alderbrook Farm owned by Marvin and Jane Pangborn, milking 650 cows. I am employed by Terimicow to manage the day to day to business of the sharemilking position and I am also a director of Terimicow, which gives me a say in how the business is operated.

Terimicow is now in its third season of operation and is planning to expand to a larger farm with more cows in 2011.

Without the foresight of the Camden Group, I would be a long way further from achieving my goal of farm ownership.