ABOUT
SHEMSHI
My name is Lee Askew. I run a successful breeding and finishing farm in Gisborne’s Waimata Valley. I was born in a city but our family holidays were on farms. The most significant for me was a beef and lamb farm on Exmoor in Devon. We bought 5ha of land in Gisborne and two in-calf Red Devon cows for “sentimental reasons” and that was the beginning of an enduring love for the breed.
I went on to study Agriculutre and lived in North Devon.
I spent a year in New Zealand milking dairy cows.
When I returned to the UK, I worked in Dairy consultancy before joining the Police in 1997.
In 1998, I owned my first Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rafiki.
In 2007, I emigrated to New Zealand with three generations of Ridgebacks. Bought a small block of land and finally I was able to buy my first two in calf Red Devon Cows.
In 2013, I visited a Red Devon Breeder in Greytown Rannoch Meats. They sell their beef at the Wellington Farmers Market. This was my light bulb moment. I have had a stall at the Gisborne Farmers Market since August 2014.
In December 2014, bought a larger block 66 hectares and have increased out numbers to over 90. Lived in a caravan for a year and a half whilst Villa Shemshi was built with a B&B Farmstay in mind.
THE SHEMSHI STORY