In this interview Joe talks about his early life in Otago, Waikouaiti and then Dunedin. On leaving school Joe took up shearing. Joe then recounts his experiences of WWII in some detail. Joe served in the air force and was prisoner of war from 1943 to the end of the war, after his plane was shot down in Egypt. On his return Joe married and took on a lease for Elmwood Station at The Key. Initially Jo grew fescue, which was exported to the US, and made more money than sheep. Joe goes on to describe other farmers in the area, starting the school and the social life in the area. In the 1950s lime was discovered at Elmwood and a lime works was started. Joe talks about the impact lime made on the productivity of the land. Joe continued to grow fescue until the late 1970s when sheep markets improved.