These are but some of the people that preceded my career on the farm I now own. Many decades on, I beam with pride and respect at their exploits. Though the challenges have changed and the difficulties are still frequent, that desired passion of New Zealand farmers to work the land, to be one with nature, and to embrace the farming ideal remains strong—for now, at least. I think every farmer has it, like those Albertlanders who settled on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour and their aspirations, or the Jeff Bales of this world. We now see this belief locked in so many farmers—three, four, or five generations whence. It is that something special that our farmers, our fishing folk, and our rural people feel. It's just something in our bones. But evermore, unfortunately for many, that feeling is slowly dying. I think most farmers and rural people would reluctantly agree. 