The partners are now adding a third generation to the mix.

Wayne Hansen started working for Duncan and Sally Sadler more than 30 years ago when he was just 15, then, in his late teens, entered into a share farming and equity partnership agreement with them.

The partnership has evolved over time and will take on a new look this year when employee Nathan Lawrence transitions from employee to share farmer.

It is all part of their philosophy of nurturing and finding pathways into the industry for talented and dedicated young dairy farmers, a philosophy that has worked well for the Sadlers, Mr Hansen and his wife Linda.

The Sadler-Hansen partnership started when Mr Sadler saw the value of offering an incentive and pathway to Wayne who was working on their home dairy property, Currajong, at Flowerdale.

"Wayne started with us when he was 15," Mr Sadler said. "We jointly own property now - over the years we have accumulated run-off blocks and different joint ventures.

"I like to invest in people and relationships - I believe the industry has always been about relationships, you've got to have a lot of give and take, and see everyone's viewpoint."

Mr Hansen said that he was paid a percentage of the milk cheque instead of a wage when he was 17. "I guess they could see signs that I was worthy of nurturing and identified that paying a bit extra would be an incentive," he said.

"It was more than just a job - it made me feel like I was part of the business."

And when an opportunity came up to buy a half-share of the cows, the Hansens made the investment.

The arrangement involved evenly splitting the input costs and income, and while the Sadlers maintained ownership of the main dairy farm, the families jointly bought more land and the Hansens lived on a run-off block they bought.

"It worked well for us," Mr Hansen said. "It has allowed me to grow in the industry - we don't always agree, but we seem to be able to work out something."

When Mr Sadler turned 50, a little over a decade ago, and decided to start reducing his active involvement in the farm, the Hansens bought the stock, plant and equipment and part of the shared run-off land while both parties continued to share costs.

Now, with Mr Sandler 61 and Mr Hansen having just turned 50, they will enter a unit trust arrangement in the new financial year to allow Mr Sadler to step back a bit and pave the way for Mr Hansen to lighten his load, too.

Mr Hansen said that the plan was to amalgamate the cows and machinery back into the main dairy operation in a 45-45-10 split. "It's an opportunity for Nathan to invest as well, and some succession planning for Linda and myself," Mr Hansen said.