Stephen saw his rural community struggling with the increasing pressures of life on the land and went about offering an outlet for the pressures ...

"When I started SFF it was apparent there was a need for something to help farmers & growers get off the farm on regular occasions, and in today's environment, the need is required even more.

It's been very satisfying watching the progress of SFF over the past five years. Especially the uptake from the farmers themselves, the buy in from them is one of the key reasons we have been so successful. 

In between selling rural real estate for Bayelys in Gisborne/ Wairoa and chairing SFF, I’m still involved in a number of other organisations around Gisborne.Well supported by my wife Nicole, we have 3-year-old Jasper, who loves adventures and a new born daughter, along with two springer spaniels and a handy heading dog.  

The saying “do as I say not as I do” applies to me as I seem to talk more about surfing than do it at the moment, but I definitely enjoy getting out on the water be it surfing, fishing, skiing when we can slot it in.

Over the winter months I'll be trying to sneak a quick duck shoot in or at the Ngatapa Rugby Club watching the lads have a run around in on the weekends. 

If you haven’t had a go at SFF I encourage you to turn up, even if it's just to cook the BBQ and have a yarn".