March 2024
We visited Auldearn Farm and had the opportunity to meet with Kobie Stevens to talk about how the Waitrose Foundation has had an impact on his career at Auldearn. Kobie joined the team in 2008. His father-in-law, Ronnie, was also working at Auldearn. Kobie started on irrigation and soon he started looking after the mature trees on the farm (filling a position that was vacant at the time).
Kobie says that even now it still seems unreal that he can work on the farm without having to first obtain certain qualifications. He's had excellent mentors on the farm. He says that the leaders brought the team to the place they are today. They made it all possible.
He takes his responsibilities very seriously - not just on the farm. He explained that what is learnt there can also impact the wider community. As a parent, Kobie was approached by the school to be chairperson of the governing body and he felt very honoured to be offered that opportunity to add value to the school and parents.
Kobie was a member of the worker committee on the farm until 2016. The committee was democratically elected and supported by the Waitrose Foundation. Waitrose became involved in 2009. When Kobie left the committee in 2016, it was time for new people to take on the responsibilities and have the opportunity to grow.
Auldearn is a family-owned business and the team of workers is small, but very committed. The core group is about 50 and it increases to 100 in peak season. Even the seasonal staff is a stable group - they want to return every year because they enjoy working at Auldearn. It is a positive working environment - workers have a say. They are listened to. Kobie also spoke about the impact Raymond had on him. Raymond Engelbrecht is our Waitrose Foundation Manager: Farm Support. "When he speaks he inspires you. His ideas, knowledge - it has an impact on the team."
Some of the kids who have benefitted from projects many years ago, still speak of the impact of the Waitrose Foundation's support during that time (even though they are adults now).
Auldearn's owner, Brynn, who unexpectedly passed away in 2020, is also mentioned by Kobie. Brynn always motivated the team and gave the guys confidence for the task. Wendy, his wife, has bravely taken over during a very trying time and the team came together in support. Brynn used to say: "I'm not looking for other guys. I'm giving this to you to do. We must try!" And they did - and still do with great success.
With regards to the Waitrose Foundation supported projects, Kobie believes that it taught them discipline to work within a budget and timeframe. The responsibility to run those projects had a very significant and lasting personal impact on him in terms of skills development and confidence.
