18 Years of Growth, Grit, and Giving Back

Dean McMiken is one of the long-standing members of the Seed & Field family, with 18 years under his belt across two tours. Those in the “OG club” (original) have watched Dean grow from a young guy on the factory floor into a skilled agronomist, contractor, and business owner - earning the respect of growers and colleagues along the way.

Early Days - Farm Life & First Lessons

Born and raised in Patumahoe to Trevor and Gaylene McMiken, Dean’s roots run deep in the land. His grandfather Gordon was a trained builder but went into farming in Patumahoe. Starting with Dairy farming on Patumahoe Hill then a small 5 acre area of Onions. Trevor started teacher training college but was drawn back to the land. He worked for Ling Sing Lowe before starting his own growing venture. Trevor’s brother Bruce joined shortly after forming TK & BW McMiken Ltd.   

Dean recalls how hard his dad and uncle worked getting up at 4am to dig early potatoes, in for breakfast when Dean and his brother were heading to school then back out to cut Lettuce. They started out growing winter lettuce, onions and potatoes on leased land, they grew the business to own 200 acres with some leased land also.

From a young age, Dean recalls every chance he could to be out with his dad on the farm. Dean worked on the farm for two years while doing part time study at MIT towards a Diploma in Horticulture. On the farm jobs consisted of groundwork, fertiliser application, drilling Onions, grading and harvesting. He even managed his own 3 acre sweetcorn block learning early lessons in risk, reward, and the stress of mother nature.

“Dean has a close relationship with his brother Mark. I was probably the mischievous one between the two of us,” Dean admits. “At 12, I loved joyriding the farm utes and tractors through the paddocks with a close friend. Most of those stories would give Worksafe nightmares.”

My Dad

Dean’s bond with his father, Trevor, left a lasting imprint. “He was a great mate, mentor, someone you could talk to about anything and someone the whole community respected. My brother and I had a close relationship with dad and when he retired at 60 we had a small partnership growing butternut pumpkin and raising a few cattle. We did this for 11 years part time until he suddenly became unwell. Losing him when I was 33 was tough - it changed how I look at life, I still feel ripped off.”

From Study to Work – and a Melbourne Chapter

After working on the family farm and completing his Diploma in Horticulture, Dean stepped into a role at Seed Enhancements as Production Manager. Summers were also spent helping with deliveries at Pukekohe Growers Supplies (now Seed & Field) - and selling his sweetcorn in his lunch breaks to the field workers whilst they were onion clipping.

Seeking adventure and experience, Dean and his then-girlfriend Amanda moved to Melbourne.  “We slept on an airbed for a couple of months at Amanda’s brothers flat, trying to find work was really hard, we took on anything - from night shifts at a butter factory where I did 10 hour shifts putting lids on a conveyor belt (pretty mind-numbing! Working at the Crown Casino delivering Food & Beverage to the many bars and restaurants was an interesting job, and even selling door to door phone contracts – short lived quitting after four days!  The experience was tough. It built character and made me appreciate where I came from.   Flating in the CBD of Melbourne with three Irish guys was a highlight and eye opening.”

After eight months, traveling around Australia the couple returned home and Dean rejoined the Pukekohe Growers Supplies crew - this time as a Warehouse Supervisor.

Marriage, Kids & Agronomy

Dean and Amanda married and bought their first house soon after their return. In June 2010, Dean began his journey as an Agronomist with Pukekohe Growers - nervous but eager, “I still remember my first company car, I was so excited. Early on, I probably put too much pressure on myself, but with the support and guidance of the team I found my footing.  I leaned on those around me and learned from the experience.

Sam and Harry Das were my first growers. They welcomed me with open arms. I was both daunted and impressed by the depth of knowledge growers had - and more so by how willing they were to share it with me. That generosity laid the foundation for the strong relationships I’ve built over the years.”

Dean’s agronomy experience now covers: onions, potatoes, brassicas, spinach, coriander, lettuce, pumpkins, beetroot and beans, quite a diverse range of crops which keep him on his toes.

Career Highlights & International Experience

One standout chapter was his work with the potato dormancy enhancer 1-4Sight.  Dean visited Idaho and Colorado, working closely with the then Etec (now supplied by Agrisource 2000 Ltd) and 14Group to understand and promote the thermally fogged product. After the technical visits, he extended his trip to explore San Francisco, Alcatraz, and the Salinas Valley.

“For the past 4-5 years, I’ve been regularly traveling to the Manawatū and Hawke’s Bay regions every 3-4 weeks for agronomy work. I love it—getting out of the area, meeting new people, and seeing how different growers operate is both refreshing and inspiring.

In 2022–2023, I transitioned into a contractor role with Seed & Field, which has given me the flexibility to for a great work/life balance and is working really well.”

Life Now – Family, Farming & Fulfilment

“Outside of my agronomy role, I run my own cropping operation, focusing on red onions for the early market. I’m not one to sit still - I love doing trials and thinking outside the square to explore new techniques and possibilities. It keeps things exciting and pushes me to keep learning, Amanda has shown interest in my cropping operation adding another layer to our partnership. Don’t tell her but she’s my new forklift driver this season!”

He and Amanda, now together for over 20 years, have two children—Lily (12) and Riley (9). “They keep me young. Whether it’s trips to the bach, farm adventures, or our family holidays to the Gold Coast - we love doing life together.”

Looking ahead, Dean and his family plan to build their dream home and spend more time at the family bach. With his mum having a few health issues he and Mark are helping her and also stepping up to help run the grandparents farm. This has included planting and maintaining 6,500 plants around our waterways which has been a huge task.

What Drives Dean

Dean describes himself as an “active relaxer” - always tinkering, working on a project, or catching up with mates over rugby, motor sport and a beer. His farm is his pride and joy, and helping others is second nature.

Playing Interclub Tennis in his younger years, Dean went into Social Night Tennis for several years which he enjoyed.

“My happy place is outside, hands-on, solving problems. Whether it's supporting a grower, building something for the kids, or just being there when someone needs help - that’s what matters most to me.”

A Word of Thanks

“To the OG crew - you know who you are - thank you. Your mentorship, support, and belief helped shape who I am. We’ve been through a lot together, and I’m proud to still be part of the team.”