10 October 1997 Return of dairying category – Farmer of the Year awards

It is nine years since dairying was last a stand-alone category in the Lincoln University Foundation/Rabobank Farmer of the Year Awards although there were a number of dairy farmer entrants in the Foundation's Farmer of the Decade Competition in 1992.

Categories in the past have included sheep, cropping, beef breeding, deer farming, hill and high country farming, irrigation, and non-traditional farming.

This year's competition was open to any South Island dairy farmer or sharemilker and the award recognises excellence in both technical and financial implementation. The Foundation was particularly interested in identifying successful dairy farm conversions and a number of these were represented among the entries.

Through the competition the Lincoln University Foundation seeks to recognise and acknowledge outstanding, innovative farm management practitioners who are providing leadership in land-based production and who will benefit from further study overseas.

The first prize is an overseas travel scholarship valued at $7500. There is a runner-up award of $2000 and this year there will be a special award of $4000 granted for the best dairy conversion. Prizes are courtesy of sponsors Rabobank.

The Lincoln University Foundation was established in 1978 at the time of Lincoln's centenary as a commemoration of 100 years of progress by the institution which was synonymous with agricultural education.

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