5 July 1994 Deer Farmer of The Year Award

"We are seeking applicants for the Deer Farmer of the Year Award", said Andrew Donnithorne, Secretary of the Lincoln University Foundation.  "This will be the twelfth Farm of the Year Award, since its inception in 1983."

The Foundation was established in 1978 at the time of the Lincoln centenary. It was seen by past and present members of the University as an appropriate commemoration to mark 100 years of progress by the Institution.

The primary objective of the Foundation is to encourage and facilitate the flow of appropriate people to and from New Zealand; people who can contribute to the development of New Zealand's land-based industries.

The Trustees have extended the scope of the Foundation and its awards by fostering a competition in the farming community. The definition of a deer farm, for the purposes of this competition is a property carrying at least 200 head of deer and where the income from the sale of deer and deer products is more than 33% of the gross farm income.

The winner will receive a travel grant to the value of $7,500 and runners-up, travel grants of $3,000 and $2,000 respectively. In this way the Foundation and its major sponsor, the National Bank of New Zealand aim to recognise outstanding, innovative farm management practitioners who are providing leadership in land based production and who will benefit from further study overseas.

 "A copy of the Prospectus", said Mr Donnithorne, "is available at all Agriculture New Zealand offices, from Rural Managers of National Bank of New Zealand and members of the New Zealand Society of Farm Management throughout the South Island. We limit the competition to the South Island as we feel it is another way to promote farming in the region."

Applications for the 1994 Deer Farmer of the Year Award close on Friday, 29 July 1994 and more information and further copies of the Prospectus are available from Errol Costello, Centre for Continuing Education, PO Box 84, Lincoln University.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.