EMPOWERED AND ENGAGED
Our Team
Empowering and developing our people is important to us. Our team play a significant role in identifying opportunities to continuously improve what we do and how we do it, helping to make our business better every day. We value the ideas and contribution our farmers make to creating a sustainable, leading farming business. We strive to create an enjoyable, empowered and engaged workplace.
Our people share our values. They are positive, accountable, take pride in their work, show initiative and leadership, care about our animals, environment, team and farm, and strive to achieve their personal best in everything they do. They challenge the status quo, and enjoy being involved in decision making and taking responsibility for outcomes. They share our passion and vision for an innovative, sustainable, high performing, enjoyable and continuously improving farming.
Meet Our Farmers
Dion
About Dion
Hi I'm Dion.
Dion
Katy
About Katy
Hey, I'm Katy. I have a 6-year-old son Tyson and I recently got married to Rob in an old woodshed on the farm. We live on Longmere farm (the dry stock block). Our son goes to the community school with other staff kids. As a family we love camping, and the outdoors. Our son has a 3 legged dog called Mac who loves to pretend he is a working dog and come on the farm with us.
Katy
Jana
About Jana
Hi, I am the wife of Mat and we have two little angels (sometime devils in disguise) called Annabelle and Gabrielle. I support our team implementing lean thinking and tools on farm, while also doing some consulting work with my company Improve8. I am also spending a bit of time on The LeanFarm Project promoting lean in the ag sector. I love having fun with the kids, travelling and seeing new parts of the world (less so now with the kiddies), gardening (well mainly weeding!) and spending time with family and friends.
Jana
Jaya
About Jaya
Hi I am Jayantha and come from Sri Lanka. I am married and have two children. My career started in Sales and Marketing and in 2013 we moved to NZ for my wife's Masters studies. I joined Grassmere in 2014 as a Farm Assistant, and have since completed my Primary ITO Level 4. I enjoy listening to music, and visiting family back in Sri Lanka.
Jaya
Kohner
About Kohner
Hey my name's Kohner. I've been working here at Grassmere Dairy for a few months now. This is my first dairy farm I've worked on.
Kohner
Kevin
About Kevin
I have recently celebrated 25 years at Grassmere Dairy!
Kevin
Mat
About Mat
Hi I'm Mat. My wife Jana and I have been farming here since 2013 and the Hocken family has been farming this land since 1890. We have two daughters Annabelle and Gabrielle. We love living on the farm and working with a dedicated and passionate team to bring nature's nutrition to consumers around the world.
Mat
Richard
About Richard
My name is Richard Coogan. I was born in Feilding in the Manawatu. I grew up mainly in the northern Wairarapa near Eketahuna on a dairy farm with three brothers and two sisters. I have been with Grassmere Dairy for 15 years!
Richard
Rob
About Rob
Rob
Ross
About Ross
Hi I'm Ross. I am a 4th generation farmer and have been farming since leaving school. I converted the family farm from sheep, beef and crop to dairy 45 years ago. I have thoroughly enjoyed farming and it has been wonderful to see the growth and to be able to continue the family legacy with the 5th generation.
Ross
Our Safety for people and animals
We take safety seriously. Safety of our team, families, visitors to our farms and our animals is our first priority. While farms are a wonderful work environment they can also be dangerous. There are multiple hazards and risks on every farm. Anyone joining our team or visiting our farms must become familiar with our safety policies and hazards on our farms. Please watch this safety video to understand the safety rules and hazards on our farms.