2024 Southland Finalists: James & Tanya Goodwin of Kelvin Grove – Sheep

James and Tanya Goodwin’s approach to sheep farming is characterised by a willingness to try new things, thinking outside the box and sharing knowledge.   
 
The Gore property has been in James’s family since 1968, with the original farm expanded by his parents to its current size of 770ha (750ha effective). In 2010, James and Tanya started leasing part of the family farm along with areas of neighbouring properties, gradually buying the stock and plant. In 2022, they entered into a lease-to-buy scheme. 
 
The Goodwins run 6,500 breeding ewes on the property, with 1,500 replacement hoggets and 80 rams. They generally finish all lambs on-farm, plus carry out their own cultivation and spraying. 
 
The judges were impressed with the couple’s willingness to try new things when it comes to pasture, feed type and crop species. Their innovation extends to cultivation practices, including such things as trialing minimal passes that align with cultivation type. 
 
Tanya and James have fine-tuned the farm system over recent years, adding significant value by upgrading and extending water schemes, adding lanes, fencing off ditches and nurturing shelter belts. In addition, processes have been put in place to make day-to-day operations more efficient – ultimately resulting in healthy, happy stock. 
 
The farming operation is balanced with enhancing the natural environment, including the protection of small pockets of native bush and an historic coal pit, and the creation of a duck pond.  
 
The couple has diversified in order to boost income, including slicing off a portion of the land for a residential subdivision.  
 
While Tanya and James are dedicated farmers, they are also striking a good work-life balance, spending time with family off-farm and sharing their knowledge with others.  
 
The Goodwins see farming as a preferred lifestyle and a privilege. As they look to the future, their wish is to continue farming and provide the same opportunity for future generations.