Staff Profiles
Vicki Prendergast
"Born and Bred into Farming"
It’s true what they say about people born and bred into farming. They have an innate understanding of what it takes to be a good farmers and an unspoken love of the land. This is certainly true of Vicki Prendergast, newly appointed Territory Manager for Eastern Waikato with Swap Stockfoods.
Born and raised on a dairy farm in Tauwhare, Vicki has not ever really ventured off the farm. Today, with her husband and two children they own a small block of 75 acres on which they run a horse stud in Manawaru, just South of Te Aroha.
As the newest member of the Swap Stockfoods sales team Vicki has grasped the basics of the stock food business quickly seeing real benefits in farmers feeding their cows well. Many of the farmers she is helping with stock food today saw her in her previous role with Ultra Scan - pregnancy scanning cows and dehorning calves.
“It certainly makes it easier when you know the farmer and being in sales is all about building relationships” states Vicki who has spent her first week out with fellow Waikato Territory Manager Jo McLaughlin, who has been with the company since it first started selling Stockfood.
“We are signing up a large amount of contracts at the moment as farmers have concerns about the lack of feed in front of them”. When asked about the benefits of contracts Vicki shows she is a fast learner. “It’s a real win/win for us and the farmers. Contracts are generally cheaper but the biggest thing is when supply gets tight contracts are honoured whilst the spot market may close. We are also one of the few companies that doesn’t tie you into taking a fixed monthly amount. There is flexibility to take your projected tonnage spread over the entire 12 month period”.
And what made Vicki want to work for Swaps? It’s the same theme coming through yet again. “Everywhere you turn there’s a Swap truck. But I like that they are a family company and they trust me to get on with the job”.
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