Episode 86 – High Performance Doesn’t Mean Burnout

Witnessing the stress of sheep farming in Southland as a child led Steve Clarke to a career as a helicopter pilot before returning home to the dairy farm. He and wife Hayley are on a mission to ensure that farming creates a balance of work and life for their family and staff.

In this episode, Sarah speaks with Steve about his journey from sheep and beef to dairy, the lessons learned through early challenges, and how smart infrastructure, genetics, and people management have shaped their success. They discuss balancing high performance with wellbeing, maintaining team morale, and keeping family life at the centre of farming.

Guest:

• Steve Clarke, Southland dairy farmer

Host:

• Sarah Perriam-Lampp, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, CountryWide

Steve Clarke is focused on building a high performing dairy business that doesn’t come at the expense of people or family life. Farming near Gore with his wife Hayley, he has developed an efficient system that balances productivity with wellbeing, driven by smart infrastructure, genetics, and teamwork.

Drawing on lessons from his early years in sheep and beef, helicopter flying, and the challenges of starting out with limited experience, Steve has refined a system that prioritises good timing, strong pastures, and staff engagement. He believes high performance comes from small, consistent improvements, creating a workplace where people enjoy what they do and farming remains sustainable for the next generation.

Read the article in the 2025 Spring issue of CountryWide here.