Ben completed an electrical apprenticeship after he finished school and so is a sparky by trade. He went farming with his then wife-to-be, Kelly, not long after finishing his apprenticeship.

They farmed for about 12 years around Taranaki and won multiple regional prizes in the Dairy Excellence Awards, showing their dedication and commitment to dairy farming. He also achieved other awards around business planning, farm safety, dairy hygiene and was twice runner-up, Taranaki Sharemilker of the Year. Ben and Kelly moved to Ashburton in the South Island to become involved in investment farming for five years, to further advance their management experience.

Ben was involved in Young Farmers earlier on in his career, helping set up several new clubs in Taranaki and also with organising the Young Farmers Contest. He remains extremely passionate about the dairy industry. He used that passion and knowledge to help make his transition into sales when he and Kelly returned from the South Island to Taranaki to live.

Ben spent time working for RD1, now Farm Source, and then working for a Delaval dealer. Ben worked as an Area Sales Manager for both Agmax Industries covering Taranaki, Wanganui and Manawatu, and Nitrosol (biological fertiliser) before joining the Waikato Milking Systems, New Zealand sales team in late 2019.

Ben is now based in Inglewood where he works covering the Lower North Island for the company. He understands a good partnership with dealers and customers is the building blocks of success. Ben offers sales and support to dealers in his region, including Think Water (New Plymouth); Elite (Opunake); Moa Milking (Inglewood); Hunts (Hawera); Bromley’s (Palmerston North); Dannevirke Dairy Supplies; Ordish and Stevens (Masterton).