The name Joyclas Friesians has been in the Satherley family for more than six decades.
After returning from serving five years in World War II, Arthur Satherley was balloted a settlement farm and purchased a small herd of cows with money saved by his wife Joy.
After growing up on the farm, their son, Lawrence, was eager to get into farming and purchased some pedigree cows and a farm at the age of 17, which joined together with a neighbouring property his parents bought.
Since 2014, Lawrence’s daughter Anna and son-in-law Robbie have been on the family farm at Linton and currently milk 300 cows on the 150ha property. They attended their first NZ Dairy Event in 2009 and were blown away by the animals on show and the spirit of friendship between the farmers.
Joyclas Friesians (named for Joy, Christopher, Lawrence, Arthur and Satherley), have had a lot of show success over the years but the last time the stud had won a Champion Holstein title was in 1993 at the Hastings Royal Show.
However, in 2022, this was about to change. It was Robbie and Anna’s second year showing at this event. One of the four cows they had brought to the show was Joyclas Sammy Moo who won best four year old Friesian the year prior. Joyclas Sammy Moo did not disappoint and took out the title of Supreme Champion. Moo was chosen as a calf in 2016 for their son Charlie and when asked what he would like to call her, 18 month old Charlie replied ‘Moo’.
At this year’s event, Joyclas Friesians had three placings in the in-milk cow competition; Joyclas Sidekick Magic, 3rd three year old in-milk, Tahora Doorman Largina, 2nd four year in-milk and Joyclas Sammy Moo, seven years and over in-milk.
Robbie and Anna have a great team that works behind the scenes including head fitter Isaac Kelsen, along with Paddy Aitken from Christchurch and Margaret Russell from Ashburton. Tammy Stone and Nathan Smith from Katunga, Northern Victoria, joined the team this year as they wanted to experience what it was like at the New Zealand Dairy Event.
Tahora Doorman Largina – placed 2nd in the four year old in-milk class with handler Tammy Stone from Katunga, Northern Victoria, Australia