January 12, 2026 • 9 mins
We catch up with one of New Zealand’s farming and shearing “power couples”.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
They are fantastic couple individuals who are a team, Rolling
Smith and Ingrid Smith, and they are our panel for today.
Great to have you, guys. We'll start with you, Ingrid House.
Things we're about see today and how's the summer been going? Well?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I'm currently sitting in the office one of those lovely
Edmund ketch up days. But I did actually get out
for an early ride with the kids this morning, so
that was quite nice.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Was that?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
What bike or horseback or yeah?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Nice? And Roland, what about you? You know, do you
do you get in the saddle as well? Do you
go for a ride?
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Absolutely not, absolutely not unless it's horse power. I'm not interested.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Fair enough, Ingrid So office day to day and of
course you've got this the made up Farmer, which is
I think it's a bit more than a sight hus
It sounds like it's a pretty full on sort of
business with you.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Tell us about tell us a bit about that.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, so I sell makeup and skin care. I've sort
of do it. It is sort of a side hustle
because I don't I don't often post about the make up,
but I always wear makeup and skin care when I'm
out and about and people see it and go, oh,
what's that? And I'm like, well, this is this amazing
lipstick that doesn't come off for tinted moisturizer, that just
(01:17):
lasts all day, even if you're.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Sweating in the drenching race. And yeah, so I.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Just post sort of fun farming stuff and do a
little bit of makeup on the side, and yeah, just
bring in spectra income that way, enrolling you guys.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Obviously you're farming about sort of seven hundred hectares across
a few blocks, I mean between the two of you.
Fairly busy life. Yeah, fairly busy at the moment. It's
at summertime in Hawk's Bay. It is actually a little
bit of green tinge there for the rain after Christmas.
But yeah, just just summer lambs on crop and cattle
(01:52):
on the hills doing some work. So it's actually one
of our bit more peaceful times a year of suppose
you could say we're a bit more busy in the winter. Yeah,
we'll grab those with both hands when we're on the
land ingrid. You know all about sharing records, of course,
having set one with your mum, well record, what did
you make of Simon Gossips seven thirty two over one
(02:13):
Matt Smith seven thirty one.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
What a performance, What a day.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
He started off really strong. I didn't go over really did,
but I found myself checking Facebook every break time to
see what the tally's eve and I was on the
edge of my seat. But he beat it. What a day,
What a huge day. He would be be super stoked
about that.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, roll, it would have been great to see that.
What an occasion.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Yeah, definitely made. It's always one of those things, you know,
those individual the solo records something in their own. Yeah.
At the Memmoth Memmoth Day, you know, you sort of
watch one run in the thing for more to go.
That's quite incredible. So I'm not super proud of Simony.
You certainly nailed that really well. So yeah, great, great days.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
What are you up to competition wise? Are you going
to be doing a few or what have you been competing?
Speaker 2 (03:06):
No?
Speaker 4 (03:06):
No, no competing for me so far, But I am.
I am going to Lumson and Winton on the weekend.
But yeah, I haven't. I haven't really been sharing. We've
been sharing a few of our own too, you know,
at the moment because we have time. But no, I haven't.
I certainly don't share in the sheds anymore. And and
(03:27):
to be here, I don't really miss it because I
love farming. I love driving tractors. So certainly taking the
easy way in life, now.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
That was a bit of a side hustle because you
accumulated a few tractors, didn't you, And they came in
pretty handy too for some others at a pretty difficult
time in your area.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Yeah, yeah, no, we're certainly certainly well equipped with gear
and all that sort of stuff nowadays. Much as Ingrid's discussed,
I think every time I go into town she's worried
what's happening. But yeah, yeah, we're certainly recovering well now
from the cyclone. Like everybody's sort of been pretty held up,
and I mean there's still a lot of hurt from
(04:04):
the sheer cost of it all. But now look, the
bays in pretty good shape again. I think, you know,
if some people might not agree with that, but everybody's
sort of looking forward and moving forward, so yeah, it's
all good.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Got to be optimistic, Angrid.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
You've got the sort of the home block there and
the blocks you're leasing and everything, but it is the
sort of what's the sort of long term goal for
you and farming it as a partnership.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
We ultimately would love to have more land. You know,
we've only got a small block here. It's about twenty
five pet days. But we would love to own our
own land. At the moment, we're just trying to farm
the least blocks that we have really well and make
them pay and then just keep saving, chipping away at
(04:50):
the mortgage and then put ourselves in a position to
expand and grow. And yeah, we'd just love to own
our own piece of dirt.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Are you excited about the future of farming and not
just the lifestyle and not what you can offer. You've
got three children, you know, the future. I guess the
fact that we're going through a bit of a purple
patch at the moment. I see that every Friday music
at the fielding sale, and you know, do you feel
good about it?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:19):
I do. I love farming.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I just think I couldn't see myself doing anything else.
I've always wanted to be in the egg industry, and
I actually originally never thought.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I would be a farmer. I sort of was going
down the genetics side.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
I did a bit of work for Risington breedline and
waggy breeders, brown rigs, and I always sort of be
in that area and I did the banking and the
fertilize and I love that. But now that I've spent
a few years farming, I just I wouldn't want to
be anywhere else. And I just love that that we're
bringing our kids up that way as well.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Like our upbringing was so cool.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back,
we had a really awesome upbringing and I'm really excited
we can give that to our children and they learn
so many different skills whether they know it or not,
you know, working in the yards or just how to
move around stock or you know, working dogs and things
like that. I just think it's awesome. That's not even
(06:13):
what to do with, you know, the meat side of it.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Just.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
That, yeah, the sheet lifestyle of it Roland.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
What are your biggest challenges that you have on a
daily basis as a farmer and heading towards that there's
long term goal of your own big property.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, I suppose, just I suppose we are. We're are
very very intensive operation. We look at everything in terms
of its productivity, and we try and be critical on
ourselves believe you have to be able to criticism to grow.
If you don't want you know, if you don't like that,
you'll never never get better. So we're very hard on
ourselves and what we can do better and how we
(06:51):
can make more money. So I suppose just really, you know,
finding the money for status to improve it so you
can make more money is the one of the big
challenges farmers coming up against. You know, It's one of
those things. If we improve our parture and our their
lives are and get our bases right, we'll grow more grass,
which grows more meat, and you know, so just just
trying to get you know, walk before we can run
(07:14):
probably my biggest challenge because I like getting there faster
than then it's nix to take, but you know which
Ingrid often tells me that I should probably slow down sometimes.
But yeah, so we're just pretty you know, trying to
make the most about what we've got and you know everything.
We certainly getting there now. We certainly plenty of new
grass going in this autumn. So yeah, he's hoping for
(07:36):
a good winter trade. And yeah, that's probably probably where
we're at the moment, is just focusing on our winter
and that's our key key time to for us in
the bay. And it's pretty hard to set and sock
over somewhere around here. But we're still still plenty of
summer crops and that seems to become pretty well with
a strong prices. As you're saying before, which is you know,
(07:58):
it's so good to see breeders have been a good
year too. I traded it has a good year and
has a bad year or opposite, you know, so it's
really good to see everybody having a good, good cricket
of this year.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
I was lucky enough to be at a beautiful wedding
up Mairra before just before Christmas, and you know, I
just loved the upbeat farming community that exists, that the
exists at the moment and long may that continue. Now
A the book for the tab for the Golden Shears
hasn't opened. You have you got any texts for me?
By the way, it does I should put a lazy
(08:32):
tenor on.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Well, I'm definitely going to be putting a lazy tirr
olie for sure, because you know, why wouldn't I?
Speaker 4 (08:40):
But I think the.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Likes of Tor Henderson is looking very strong. I haven't
actually been following the show as much because he hasn't
been doing them. But David Buick's always a good one
to back. He's a strong contender, amazing story how he's covered.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
From his hat.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
So yeah, I don't know, i'd have to. I think
I must got some.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Results and then I have to get back to you
on that one.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Right, I will keep us posted on that and then
I know who Roley will be backing. But you're right
about David Buick. What an incredible story that is. Hey, guys,
I could talk all day. Have you have you guys been?
I mean, I mean I watch a lot of Telly
and excuse me if I must, but you must. You
must be lining up a TV show or something. I reckon,
I reckon you could you know you could take on
Jeremy Clarkson's you know, a New Zealand version.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I think I've hatched an idea here.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
Yeah, I think I think we're too brillily honest and
we're probably a harsh for people's liking sometimes. So yeah,
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
How that go.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
I think that might rate. Then great to check to
you guys. Roland smith Ingress, Well, thank you so much
for joining us. Much appreciated,
They are fantastic couple individuals who are a team, Rolling
Smith and Ingrid Smith, and they are our panel for today.
Great to have you, guys. We'll start with you, Ingrid House.
Things we're about see today and how's the summer been going? Well?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I'm currently sitting in the office one of those lovely
Edmund ketch up days. But I did actually get out
for an early ride with the kids this morning, so
that was quite nice.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Was that?
Speaker 1 (00:25):
What bike or horseback or yeah?
Speaker 3 (00:28):
Nice? And Roland, what about you? You know, do you
do you get in the saddle as well? Do you
go for a ride?
Speaker 4 (00:34):
Absolutely not, absolutely not unless it's horse power. I'm not interested.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Fair enough, Ingrid So office day to day and of
course you've got this the made up Farmer, which is
I think it's a bit more than a sight hus
It sounds like it's a pretty full on sort of
business with you.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Tell us about tell us a bit about that.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, so I sell makeup and skin care. I've sort
of do it. It is sort of a side hustle
because I don't I don't often post about the make up,
but I always wear makeup and skin care when I'm
out and about and people see it and go, oh,
what's that? And I'm like, well, this is this amazing
lipstick that doesn't come off for tinted moisturizer, that just
(01:17):
lasts all day, even if you're.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
Sweating in the drenching race. And yeah, so I.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
Just post sort of fun farming stuff and do a
little bit of makeup on the side, and yeah, just
bring in spectra income that way, enrolling you guys.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Obviously you're farming about sort of seven hundred hectares across
a few blocks, I mean between the two of you.
Fairly busy life. Yeah, fairly busy at the moment. It's
at summertime in Hawk's Bay. It is actually a little
bit of green tinge there for the rain after Christmas.
But yeah, just just summer lambs on crop and cattle
(01:52):
on the hills doing some work. So it's actually one
of our bit more peaceful times a year of suppose
you could say we're a bit more busy in the winter. Yeah,
we'll grab those with both hands when we're on the
land ingrid. You know all about sharing records, of course,
having set one with your mum, well record, what did
you make of Simon Gossips seven thirty two over one
(02:13):
Matt Smith seven thirty one.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
What a performance, What a day.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
He started off really strong. I didn't go over really did,
but I found myself checking Facebook every break time to
see what the tally's eve and I was on the
edge of my seat. But he beat it. What a day,
What a huge day. He would be be super stoked
about that.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah, roll, it would have been great to see that.
What an occasion.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
Yeah, definitely made. It's always one of those things, you know,
those individual the solo records something in their own. Yeah.
At the Memmoth Memmoth Day, you know, you sort of
watch one run in the thing for more to go.
That's quite incredible. So I'm not super proud of Simony.
You certainly nailed that really well. So yeah, great, great days.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
What are you up to competition wise? Are you going
to be doing a few or what have you been competing?
Speaker 2 (03:06):
No?
Speaker 4 (03:06):
No, no competing for me so far, But I am.
I am going to Lumson and Winton on the weekend.
But yeah, I haven't. I haven't really been sharing. We've
been sharing a few of our own too, you know,
at the moment because we have time. But no, I haven't.
I certainly don't share in the sheds anymore. And and
(03:27):
to be here, I don't really miss it because I
love farming. I love driving tractors. So certainly taking the
easy way in life, now.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
That was a bit of a side hustle because you
accumulated a few tractors, didn't you, And they came in
pretty handy too for some others at a pretty difficult
time in your area.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Yeah, yeah, no, we're certainly certainly well equipped with gear
and all that sort of stuff nowadays. Much as Ingrid's discussed,
I think every time I go into town she's worried
what's happening. But yeah, yeah, we're certainly recovering well now
from the cyclone. Like everybody's sort of been pretty held up,
and I mean there's still a lot of hurt from
(04:04):
the sheer cost of it all. But now look, the
bays in pretty good shape again. I think, you know,
if some people might not agree with that, but everybody's
sort of looking forward and moving forward, so yeah, it's
all good.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Got to be optimistic, Angrid.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
You've got the sort of the home block there and
the blocks you're leasing and everything, but it is the
sort of what's the sort of long term goal for
you and farming it as a partnership.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
We ultimately would love to have more land. You know,
we've only got a small block here. It's about twenty
five pet days. But we would love to own our
own land. At the moment, we're just trying to farm
the least blocks that we have really well and make
them pay and then just keep saving, chipping away at
(04:50):
the mortgage and then put ourselves in a position to
expand and grow. And yeah, we'd just love to own
our own piece of dirt.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Are you excited about the future of farming and not
just the lifestyle and not what you can offer. You've
got three children, you know, the future. I guess the
fact that we're going through a bit of a purple
patch at the moment. I see that every Friday music
at the fielding sale, and you know, do you feel
good about it?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:19):
I do. I love farming.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I just think I couldn't see myself doing anything else.
I've always wanted to be in the egg industry, and
I actually originally never thought.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
I would be a farmer. I sort of was going
down the genetics side.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
I did a bit of work for Risington breedline and
waggy breeders, brown rigs, and I always sort of be
in that area and I did the banking and the
fertilize and I love that. But now that I've spent
a few years farming, I just I wouldn't want to
be anywhere else. And I just love that that we're
bringing our kids up that way as well.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
Like our upbringing was so cool.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back,
we had a really awesome upbringing and I'm really excited
we can give that to our children and they learn
so many different skills whether they know it or not,
you know, working in the yards or just how to
move around stock or you know, working dogs and things
like that. I just think it's awesome. That's not even
(06:13):
what to do with, you know, the meat side of it.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
Just.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
That, yeah, the sheet lifestyle of it Roland.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
What are your biggest challenges that you have on a
daily basis as a farmer and heading towards that there's
long term goal of your own big property.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, I suppose, just I suppose we are. We're are
very very intensive operation. We look at everything in terms
of its productivity, and we try and be critical on
ourselves believe you have to be able to criticism to grow.
If you don't want you know, if you don't like that,
you'll never never get better. So we're very hard on
ourselves and what we can do better and how we
(06:51):
can make more money. So I suppose just really, you know,
finding the money for status to improve it so you
can make more money is the one of the big
challenges farmers coming up against. You know, It's one of
those things. If we improve our parture and our their
lives are and get our bases right, we'll grow more grass,
which grows more meat, and you know, so just just
trying to get you know, walk before we can run
(07:14):
probably my biggest challenge because I like getting there faster
than then it's nix to take, but you know which
Ingrid often tells me that I should probably slow down sometimes.
But yeah, so we're just pretty you know, trying to
make the most about what we've got and you know everything.
We certainly getting there now. We certainly plenty of new
grass going in this autumn. So yeah, he's hoping for
(07:36):
a good winter trade. And yeah, that's probably probably where
we're at the moment, is just focusing on our winter
and that's our key key time to for us in
the bay. And it's pretty hard to set and sock
over somewhere around here. But we're still still plenty of
summer crops and that seems to become pretty well with
a strong prices. As you're saying before, which is you know,
(07:58):
it's so good to see breeders have been a good
year too. I traded it has a good year and
has a bad year or opposite, you know, so it's
really good to see everybody having a good, good cricket
of this year.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:10):
I was lucky enough to be at a beautiful wedding
up Mairra before just before Christmas, and you know, I
just loved the upbeat farming community that exists, that the
exists at the moment and long may that continue. Now
A the book for the tab for the Golden Shears
hasn't opened. You have you got any texts for me?
By the way, it does I should put a lazy
(08:32):
tenor on.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Well, I'm definitely going to be putting a lazy tirr
olie for sure, because you know, why wouldn't I?
Speaker 4 (08:40):
But I think the.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Likes of Tor Henderson is looking very strong. I haven't
actually been following the show as much because he hasn't
been doing them. But David Buick's always a good one
to back. He's a strong contender, amazing story how he's covered.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
From his hat.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
So yeah, I don't know, i'd have to. I think
I must got some.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
Results and then I have to get back to you
on that one.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Right, I will keep us posted on that and then
I know who Roley will be backing. But you're right
about David Buick. What an incredible story that is. Hey, guys,
I could talk all day. Have you have you guys been?
I mean, I mean I watch a lot of Telly
and excuse me if I must, but you must. You
must be lining up a TV show or something. I reckon,
I reckon you could you know you could take on
Jeremy Clarkson's you know, a New Zealand version.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I think I've hatched an idea here.
Speaker 4 (09:27):
Yeah, I think I think we're too brillily honest and
we're probably a harsh for people's liking sometimes. So yeah,
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
How that go.
Speaker 3 (09:35):
I think that might rate. Then great to check to
you guys. Roland smith Ingress, Well, thank you so much
for joining us. Much appreciated,
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