9 July 1996 Young Farmer remembered as leader and motivator

Trust Bank Skellerup Young Farmer of the Year Phil Reid, originally from Southland but now of Wellington, graduated from Lincoln University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) degree.

"Always a leader, always a motivator" – that's how he is remembered by the Head of Lincoln's Animal and Veterinary Sciences Group, Professor Andrew Sykes, who was among those who taught him.

Professor Sykes says Phil was one of the lads the class would always spark off. "It's not surprising to see him get ahead in life and win this outstanding title.

"At Lincoln it was clear Phil had a practical interest in agriculture and an intellectual ability to go with it.

"All of us at the University who taught him are delighted with his success in the Young Farmer of the Year competition."

Lincoln University Senior Lecturer in Farm Management Rod Plank, says the fact that the winner and five of the seven finalists in this year's competition have university degrees is encouraging for agriculture.

"New Zealand agriculture is only as good as the calibre of the people in the industry," he says.

"In recent years many of us in the agricultural sector have been concerned that too many of our future farmers and agribusiness people have been seduced by the apparently easy paths to success in the urban sector.

"The big city lifestyle can be very attractive to someone from a remote rural area, but it is hoped that the success of university trained people in this competition, and in particular Lincoln University educated graduates (the first three place-getters in this year’s competition were all Lincoln graduates), will encourage more potential young farmers and farm servicing people to stay with agriculture.

"We are fortunate that over most of the past 100 years the industry has attracted energetic and capable people. It is these people who have ensured that we are recognised as the most successful, efficient and internationally competitive producers of lamb, wool, beef, dairy products, kiwifruit and apples in the world and not, as some would have it, our soil and climate.

"It's reassuring to see young contributors such as winner Phil Reid, Colin Glass (second) and John Ridgen (third) to the fore in the agricultural and agribusiness sector."

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