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Ben Kiddle

Farm Manager
Bell Hill Dairy Unit, Weka Complex

A Generational Goal

Ben Kiddle spent his early farming career working toward a role at Pāmu. His parents and grandparents always urged him to get into a corporate farming environment where he could continually step up into bigger roles. Managing Bell Hill is the result of that focus. Today, his main motivation comes from his kids. He wants to set a strong example for them and prove that putting in the hard work pays off in the real world. 

Life on the Farm 

Ben enjoys the daily variety of farm work. Getting to be out in nature and watching the milk solids (kgMS) climb to peak production keeps him driven. He loves working with the herd and seeing the animals happy, healthy, and acting exactly how a cow should.

"Farming excellence is when the cows are fit and thriving. Daily for me and my team, this looks like open communication on grazing, sending photos of water troughs charging, and drafting out lame or sick cows to get on top of what is wrong with them immediately."

Working Shoulder-to-Shoulder

Of all the Pāmu values, Ben relates most to Shoulder-to-Shoulder. A true test of this came over winter when Ben and his 2IC stepped in to work across three total farms to cover for managers who were away. His Bell Hill team stepped up without hesitation, keeping their own farm running smoothly while being a team member down. Watching a group become a cohesive unit that tackles challenges head-on without getting stressed out is a major highlight for Ben. 

Pushing for Results

Ben brings a competitive edge to his work. During his first season supplying colostrum at Bell Hill, his team gave complete buy-in and secured second place behind a farm that had held the top spot for over six years. Now, his team is pushing to claim first place. Ben appreciates that the hard graft gets recognised at Pāmu, noting that Business Managers take the time to directly thank people who go above and beyond on the things that often go unnoticed. 

Looking Ahead

Ben wants to keep progressing in the dairy sector. Over the next five years, he aims to step up into an Operations role or take on a sharemilking contract. 

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