By Farmers Weekly

Copyright farmersweekly

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Smedley Station has appointed Greg Crombie as the agricultural training farm’s new station manager.

Crombie will move to Smedley from Marlborough, where he has been general manager of Leefield Station since 2018.

Howard Estate Advisory Board chair Conrad Wilkshire said Crombie was a “standout candidate” with his experience and track record in farming, and passion for education.

“Greg understands at a very practical level what’s involved in running a successful farm business and he brings proven business management skills. Most of all, he has a huge passion for teaching and helping people understand how it all works in practice,” Wilkshire said.

Crombie is well positioned to help Smedley achieve its vision of developing cadets and leading future innovation to stay relevant with future times, he said.

Crombie said he is excited to join Smedley and said it is an honour and a privilege to put his nearly 30 years of farm management and leadership experience into action at Smedley.

He was drawn by the scale and the significance of the station, alongside its values and work developing young people into the farmers of tomorrow.

“Smedley has always been about preparing young people for lifelong careers on the land. My focus is on keeping that tradition strong while making sure our cadets are ready for the challenges of modern farming, whether that’s in the form of a changing climate, changing technology or changes in society.”

He said it is a privilege to help young people through life and be part of their journey. Smedley has 13 cadets enter the station each year for the two-year cadetship.

“I’ve farmed all my life and if I wasn’t going to be a farmer, I wanted to be a teacher. Being at Smedley allows me to combine the two things I’m very passionate about.”

Crombie has five children, and his partner and teenage son will join him on the farm from December 1.

Public Trust CEO Glenys Talivai said Crombie’s appointment introduces leadership that will continue to uphold the values that make Smedley one of New Zealand’s most respected agricultural training farms,

“Greg joins a team dedicated to preparing cadets for the realities of modern farming – combining tradition with innovation. We give Greg and his family a very warm welcome.”

Smedley Station operates as both a commercial farm and a self-funded training facility. Situated in Tikokino, central Hawke’s Bay, the 5,660 hectare property is home to 30,000 stock units and employs a dedicated team committed to cadet development.