Glenrae Stud

Located on the southern edge of the Hokonui Hills near Lumsden, Glen Mitchell manages Glenrae Stud, a 500-hectare sheep and cattle farm, with a dedication that spans generations. A Lumsden local, Glen returned to his Southland farming roots after studying applied science at Massey University. When the opportunity arose to purchase the property 19 years ago, he couldn’t pass it up — especially since it sat right next to the farm where he grew up.

Glen now runs Glenrae Stud with his wife, Michelle, and their three children, Fynn, Maisie, and Tilly, managing the vast rolling hills, tussock country, and cultivated paddocks that form the backbone of their farming operation. Thanks to proactive farm management, Glenrae Stud now runs 2,700 ewes, 80 beef cows, and 120 trading cattle, bringing the total stock units to around 3,000. However, the success of Glenrae isn’t only measured in numbers — Glen takes pride in the quality of his livestock.

“The end product is vitally important,” he explained. “It’s what the customer sees and what we’re judged on. Every decision we make: better feeding, better genetics, different grazing policies, whatever it may be, it always comes back to ensuring the quality of what we produce.”

A key component of that quality comes from Glen’s passion for selective breeding. Glenrae operates a Coopworth and Coopdale sheep stud, producing high-performing cross-breed rams known for their fertility and fast growth rates. “In conjunction with the genetics, we’ve got a lot of our flatland pastures now in short-term grasses to get the best growth rates out of the sheep and lambs we produce,” Glen shared. These rams are then sold across the country, playing a significant role in New Zealand’s sheep farming industry.

Pasture management is equally critical to Glen’s success. “We’ve been increasing our cattle stocking rate in recent years to maximise pasture efficiency,” he noted. “It’s about making the most of what we have. We’re constantly looking at ways to maximise grazing efficiency to ensure our pastures are utilised in the best possible way.” By fine-tuning how different parts of the farm are grazed, Glen has optimised the growth rates of his livestock. “It’s all about making sure the pastures are used to their fullest potential, and that means constantly reassessing how we manage them.”

A unique challenge for Glenrae is its location, bisected by State Highway 6, the main road between Invercargill and Queenstown. For years, moving stock across the highway was a logistical nightmare. With around 4,500 vehicles, including heavy traffic, passing through the 100 km/h stretch each day, Glen faced increasing difficulties ensuring the safety of his staff and animals. “It was too dangerous putting animals down the road and to put staff in that position.”

After years of deliberation, Glen and his wife Michelle decided to invest in a stock underpass. “We’d ummed and ahhed over it for a while, but it had to happen” he said. In November 2021, the pair decided to move ahead with the project.

“In conjunction with South Roads, we installed an underpass, obviously we’re on the Hokonui Hills, so it had several logistical issues with slopes,” he recalled. “In the end, we closed State Highway 6 for a weekend, and from six o’clock on Friday to eight o’clock Monday morning, South Roads worked 24 hours a day, and had the whole thing installed, with the Highway open again, on the Monday morning. It was fantastic and they did a great job. It rained the whole weekend, and I don’t know whether the engineers enjoyed that much,” he laughed. “But it was amazing to see what can be done if you think outside the box.”

The underpass has allowed Glen to streamline operations, creating a central lane through the northern half of the property. “It came at a very expensive cost, but it’s a game-changer in terms of efficiency,” he noted. “The ability to move stock easily without worrying about traffic has made day-to-day management much smoother. Plus, it’s safer for everyone involved.”

Balancing farm life with family life is another priority for Glen. He acknowledged that the demands of farming, especially in a rural and often isolated area, can take a toll on mental health. “It’s really important to plan time off the farm,” Glen advised. “Whether that is making time to have dinner or a beer with friends, or having a weekend skiing. Whatever your interests may be, even running a marathon, if that’s what spins your wheels,” he quipped with a smile. “You can easily fill every hour of your day with farm work, particularly when home and work are one and the same, but you have to make time to enjoy life as well.”

For Glen, farming is more than a business — it’s a way of life. He spoke with genuine enthusiasm about the opportunities farming has provided for his family. “The primary industry is full of exciting opportunities, both inside and outside the farm gate,” he said. “The technology and innovation are amazing. We’ve got teenage kids who are thinking about their career paths, and I see the primary industry as having incredible potential for growth. Whether it’s as a land-based operator, in the science field, or in marketing our products, the opportunities are endless. Dream big I tell them."

Looking ahead, Glen is focused on incremental improvements rather than large-scale changes. While there are still some infrastructure projects to complete, including extending the central lane, his main priority is refining the processes already in place. “We’re constantly tweaking things,” he explained. “Whether it’s adjusting feeding regimes or reassessing grazing practices, it’s all about fine-tuning the system to get the best results from the land we have.”

Through careful management, a commitment to quality, and an eye on the future, Glen Mitchell has built a farm that not only sustains his family but also stands as a model for thoughtful, intentional farming. As he puts it, “Life’s about living,” and Glen ensures that his family, his animals, and his land all have the opportunity to thrive.