Waikato / bay of plenty

Meet Rick Nelson, Aaron Leppard, Simon Vernon & Alistair Smith

Aaron and Simon work with farmers to help identify the benefits and challenges of their properties. In the Waikato, there’s a huge diversity of farms – from the very large to the small boutique ones – and the Waikato / Bay of Plenty team work with them all.

WAIKATO & BAY OF PLENTY

Experienced in dairy farming all over New Zealand, Aaron brings his vast knowledge to the Waikato region. With extensive experience in the New Zealand Grazing industry, Simon loves working with farmers to get the best results.

Aaron Leppard

Lead Waikato Manager

(Waikato South Service Manager)

Taranaki Boy born and bred. I grew up on a Dairy farm in North Taranaki, and in my earlier working career I worked on dairy farms in Taranaki, Southland, and North Otago.

Moving to Te Awamutu with my wife and 2 children I took up the challenge of working in a totally different role with the Department of Corrections in the Waikato learning valuable communication, leadership, and mediation skills.

Rugby is my passion. I have coached numerous rugby teams and played at a senior level myself. I continue to keep my fitness level up and be involved as a referee.

While my life in the Corrections department taught me many skills farming is in my genes and I started looking for opportunities to return to work in the agricultural sector.

I am excited about my role as Service Manager with NZ Grazing Company. I enjoy connecting with farmers, listening to their stories, being part of their support team, facilitating solutions and sharing my dairy farming knowledge.

I am passionate about helping to get your heifers into the best shape to ensure they have a long and productive life within your dairy herd.

Simon Vernon

(Waikato North Service Manager)

Waikato born and bred, I grew up on a family dairy farm near Te Mata, Raglan. Most of my earlier careers involved the agricultural industry, from dairy farm manager in the Canterbury area to livestock agent in North Otago, then to territory manager, and most recently, sales manager.

After several years in the South Island, I moved North to take on another challenge: leasing the family sheep and beef farm from my parents in North Waikato. I’ve set it up so that I can manage it while also working off-farm as I have in various rural professional roles.

Farming and agriculture is a huge part of my life; it’s in the blood. But I do enjoy time off-farm by volunteering at the National Fieldays, judging calves around the North Waikato, judging speeches at local schools, and participating in the odd outdoor activity. The agricultural sector has always been a draw card for me, and being a part of it in a rural professional role has helped me improve key skills like communication, relationship building, and teamwork.

I’m excited to be a part of a well-established company with a strong history in the agricultural industry. I look forward to continuing the relationships and history that NZ grazing has in the agricultural industry, especially working closely with farmers, learning about their farms and supporting them through growing great heifers.

I am passionate about the journey and the success of growing your heifers from calves to R2’s so that they can maximise their potential for a full productive life within the dairy herd.

Alistair Smith (Field Technician)

I have been involved in growing things all my life – whether it be grape vines, organic carrots, or cattle. I have lived in the Waikato all my life, other than a few years living in Canada. I now farm a beef block in the north Waikato, which is my hobby and takes any spare time I have.

As a Field technician for NZ Grazing in the Waikato one of my passions is seeing well grown animals. I enjoy working alongside Aaron and Bryan, going round to the different growers, having interesting conversations and discussing ideas and techniques on how to grow and achieve great results for their animals.

Rick Nelson (Field Technician)

I’ve spent nearly my entire life in the King Country, growing up on the family sheep and beef farm in Te Kuiti. It was a privilege to eventually purchase that same farm with my wife and raise our own children there, sharing with them the rewarding experience of being self-employed and working the land together. For me, the satisfaction has always come from producing quality stock and seeing the results of hard work.

My love for the industry has taken me far beyond the farm gate, from shearing sheds in Britain and Germany to a sheep dog show in Japan.

While we’ve recently moved to a small block in Gordonton, near Hamilton, my passion for the outdoors and farming remains my favourite hobby. When I’m not tending to our beef cattle and Wiltshire ewes, you’ll often find me exploring the country on my motorbike with friends.

Joining Aaron, Alistair and Bryan in the Waikato team of NZ Grazing has been a fantastic new chapter. It’s inspiring to meet so many growers who are truly passionate about raising healthy heifers. I’m enjoying the learning process and settling into my role as a weigh technician.