Community ‘Lucky’ to have Expo
Leigh and Rick Bullock are huge fans of the East Coast Farming Expo.
They’ve attended most of them, and Leigh now helps by running the cadet and station challenges alongside Expo manager Sue Wilson.
“I do love that the Expo is entirely farming based,” says Mrs Bullock. “Of course the challenges are my favourite part of it all and it is a great day catching up with other rural folk mixed with learning something new. It’s a really good couple of days for us all.”
In recent years the couple with their young daughters Tilly and Daisy have been farming in the Ruakituri Valley – for four-and-a-half years – and for the past 18 months managing the 600-hectare McRae Trust Farm at Frasertown.
It’s a steep hill country sheep and beef farm that’s very typical of the East Coast. Included on the farm, which was gifted by Miss May McRae to all New Zealanders nearly 40 years ago, are three QEII covenants. Her vision was to promote the development, protection and education of exotic and indigenous flora and fauna. The Bullocks are committed to following vision of Miss McRae, the improvement of farming lands and sustainable methods.
“The Expo is great for the community and I really think we are so lucky to have it here,” says Mrs Bullock.
