Gordon’s ‘hay days’ set to end

Bruce Gordon always thought his two sons would inherit his Rangitı¯kei contracting business. The Horizons Regional Council chairman has spent the past 36 years building it, from a single tractor bailing hay to a multidivision company. But, with his sons declining the offer, Gordon has put his Marton-based baby on the market. Bruce Gordon Contracting is made up of three departments – cultivation, transport and trading or cropping. Gordon, 61, has offered to assist the new owner in a mentoring role to retain long-time clients and ensure a smooth transition. His venture started with one tractor, which he used to do some cultivation work in between shearing seasons, and he soon picked up a bailing run. Three decades later, the businessman now bales straw, which is sent to strawberry growers around the North Island. Gordon said his contracting team mainly worked around Ohingaiti, Feilding, Marton, Whanganui and Bulls. Four fulltime staff are on the contracting team, and when they are busy harvesting, it grows to about 13, with extra casual staff taken on. By offloading the business, Gordon hopes to have more time to follow his passions of flying and farming. ‘‘It was a tough decision, but I’m hoping to work with [the new owner] for two or three years to get them through. ‘‘I want to make sure they succeed. There’s a lot of opportunity out there.’’ Property Brokers rural sales consultant Richard White said it was rare for a contracting business to come up for sale. White valued the business at between $1.5 million and $2m. He believed it could appeal to sharemilkers looking to escape the dairy industry.