From Part-Time to Full-Time: My Journey in Product Development

“If you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life.” That’s Michelle Osgood's mantra. She’s one of those infectious personalities that lights up a room. Born and bred in Blenheim, Marlborough District, Michelle comes from a long line of farmers. Her passions include farming, fishing, and any kind of water sport she can experience. She’s even an author, a mother, a stripper - though not in the way you might think (more about that later). She’s the first to admit she loves a good yarn. “It’s a talent,” she says with a grin.

What do you do at Seed & Field?

“I’m in Product Development. I’ve been with the company since August 2021, where I was the first part-timer in the South Island team. My initial role was just 10 hours a week, where I canvassed new customers for our new range of Levity Crop Science and Coda products. It’s been a steep learning curve, one I’ve embraced. Over time, I’ve built my role into a full-time position covering all of New Zealand.

Working remotely from home, I’ve really made the job my own. As my knowledge has grown, so has my role, it’s very people-focused—which is perfect for me. My first year was all about trialling and sampling, while the second year was focused on using those results to drum up new customers and show them how well the products work. In the third year, we introduced the range to apples, avocados, and stone fruit. Now, going into my fourth year, I’m handling multi-crops across multiple regions, and I’ve even got other major retailers interested in picking up the range for their stores which has put a new twist on my role.

I’ve really made headway and have some exciting things happening. To be honest, I’m not an expert in any of them, but I love making connections with people, helping them, and developing relationships that benefit both sides. Honestly, I can’t believe I get paid to just be myself!”

What do you think you bring to Seed & Field?

“I’ve got a good sense of humour, I’m open to learning things, a good team ethic.  I couldn’t do what the rest of the team do, they have so much knowledge, but I have great people skills.  And I can laugh at myself.”

What’s your work history Michelle?

“When I was 16, I dreamed of being in broadcasting, working as a radio announcer. I applied to radio school three times, but each time I was told I needed to travel the world and take up smoking to deepen my voice” - now you know how announcers get their voices!

Over the years, I’ve only had a few jobs I didn’t actually like. In my late teens, I did my OE (Overseas Experience) and spent 10 years traveling. I started in Australia and made my way through America, Europe, and the UK, always working in people-focused jobs and following my passions. I’ve had quite the variety: nannying in Detroit, wine harvesting in California’s Sonoma Valley, and even working at a Northern Scotland hotel with a castle attached.

I’ve been heavily involved in viticulture for many years.  I worked for Villa Maria for seven years, in fact, I’ve completed six harvests in the wine industry (that’s six vintages, for those in the know!) this included grape picking and turning it into wine. The rest of the year I was pruning, stripping (yes, that’s where the “stripping” anecdote comes in - well, it got your attention), wrapping, bud rubbing, and even driving tractors. I was fortunate to work at a small winery, which allowed me to experience all aspects of the business. My main role was at the cellar door (the tasting room and sales), and it’s definitely my forte. I just loved investing in a great product and sharing that experience with customers.

In 2017, I set up a business in Blenheim called “The Wine Station,” located at the local train station, which was a popular tourist hub. It featured wine vending machines showcasing local Marlborough wines. ”

Michelle is also an author! 

Let me give a big plug for the book “50 Years, 50 Stories: Marlborough, the Region That Turned the Wine World Upside Down.” 

“I was a big part of this book—last year marked 50 years of wine history in Marlborough. My friend Tessa Anderson began the writing project but sadly suffered a stroke and didn’t think she could finish it. I’ve always admired Tessa from afar. She was one of the first women in radio and a renowned reporter, so I was honoured when she invited me to help complete the book. With her being incapacitated, she fondly called me her “left-hand helper,” a title I’m incredibly proud of.”

Tell me about your family.

My mum’s family had a farm in the Pelorus Sounds, so every holiday was spent fishing, camping, and making fires. It was such an amazing place to grow up.

I met my husband, Phil, in one of the vineyards after my OE in my late 20s. We got engaged after five months and married five months later, he was also born and raised here in Blenheim, we both love fishing and the seas and we’re not afraid to get our hands dirty.

Now, 24 years on, with two kids and the cutest dog, Rusty, we’re still based in Blenheim, living a wonderful life.

My parents, Barb and John, also live locally and are an important part of our lives. They bought their land 20 years ago and planted 108 apricot trees. Would you believe they’re the largest apricot growers in Marlborough! For many years, they grew the trees just to enjoy the blossoms and would give the crop away, but then Dad built himself a boom sprayer and started taking it a bit more seriously. Last year, they harvested a tonne and a half, but this year, nature threw them a curveball with frost and it annihilated the crop. Sadly, the trees don’t require a lot of sprays either, much to my disappointment,” Mum and Dad also own a beautiful 11-meter launch based in the Sounds. We’re so grateful to be able to experience fishing and water sports together as a family on a regular basis.

Life took a turn for our family when tragically in 2023, we lost our beautiful daughter, Zoe, to cancer. She had been fighting this battle for several years, and by 2021, her treatment had finished. We thought the suffering was finally over, but sadly, the Gods had other plans, and they took her from us.

During this tough time, I have to mention how incredible the Seed & Field team were in showing they cared. Their support was like a magical presence, and I can’t fully explain the strength it gave me to keep going. It’s a true testament to the strength of our bond as a team.

We’re so proud of our kids. Lucas, our son, still lives at home. He’s an independent, qualified linesman and works for the same company, Marlborough Lines as Phil, who’s a Cable Locator.

What are your future plans?

“In 10 years’ time, I’ll be looking down the barrel of retirement, and hopefully, by then, I’ll have learned how plants really grow properly. I also hope to still be working at Seed & Field and to have gotten better at the job I have. I see the role evolving in many ways, which is one of the cool things about the company. We’re not afraid to seize opportunities. This job has grown because Paul simply said, “See how you go,” and I’ve gone for it.

It’s been a big learning curve seeing industries beyond viticulture. There’s some incredible resilience out there. Growers are remarkable—they just dive in, and no matter the disaster, they get right back to it and start again.

Phil and I still plan to travel with South America and Africa on my bucket list, particularly Kruger National Park in South Africa and Mendoza in Argentina.  We both like adventures so who knows where we will end up!”