14 October 1998 Record entries add competitive spice to annual Farmer of the Year awards

A record 19 entries from throughout the South Island make this year's Lincoln University Foundation Farmer of the Year awards the most competitive ever.

The category – Premier Supplier – has not been used before in the 15-year history of the competition and has produced a "showcase of imagination, lateral thinking and entrepreneurial talent", says the co-ordinating judge, Lincoln University Senior Lecturer in Farm Management Neil Gow.

Premier Supplier refers to farmers who have moved the focus of their operation from the paddock down the supply chain to added value beyond the farm gate.

Entries range from quality assured pork to cordon bleu lamb; from specialist potatoes to biodynamic grain and from contract supply to direct marketing. Overall they reflect the changing production attitudes in the farming sector, says Mr Gow.

"This year's category has produced a very positive response," he says, "and it has made judging the most challenging I have encountered since the competition started."

On-site judging and the selection of finalists is currently being completed by Mr Gow and staff from Rabobank, the associate sponsor and a specialist financier of the agribusiness chain.

The finalists will make presentations about their enterprises to the judges and a public audience in the competition final at Lincoln University on Wednesday 4 November, starting at 9.30am in the Stewart Building. Top prize is a $7500 overseas travel scholarship.

"From the standard of entrants we will have an exciting set of final presentations and a real showcase of South Island farming talent," says Mr Gow.

Errol Costello, Centre for Continuing Education, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand