12 November 2008 Five finalists line up for Lincoln University Foundation Farmer of Year title

They enter the final round of judging  -  the public presentation session  -  at Lincoln University on Tuesday 25 November. Starting at 9.30am in Lincoln University's Stewart 2 Lecture Theatre, the finalists will deliver presentations about their respective farming operations and this year's competition category "Meat Production".

At stake for the winner is a $15,000 travel award and for the runner-up a prize of $7500.

All interested members of the public are welcome to attend. Admission is free.

The awards have been running for 25 years and each year a different category of farming is chosen. This year's theme "Meat Production" was chosen in order to highlight enterprise in meat production in the sheep, beef and deer farming sectors in the South Island.

This year's five finalists are a mixture of beef and/or sheep farmers. Coordinating judge Neil Gow says this year's finalists are particularly interesting given they are from very different environments. From coastal Catlins to the plains of Southland, to both dry and irrigated hill country in North Otago and Canterbury.

"The finalists have demonstrated they are competent farmers who use innovative ideas that are suitable to their environments in order to achieve high levels of performance in meat production," he says.

Lincoln University Foundation Chair, Neil Taylor, says while the sheep, beef and deer sectors of the agricultural industry have gone through difficult times in recent years there are still many who achieve high levels of production values and financial returns as a result. "All the finalists in this competition show that profits can be made, with top management, even in difficult times," he says.

Neil Taylor says the five finalists have already proven their success.

"I believe it will be a challenge for the judges to separate them out in order to find a winner."

The Lincoln University Foundation/Rabobank/Ravensdown Farmer of the Year finalists are:

• Richard and Jane Maxwell. The Maxwells farm Friesian bulls on their 670ha of dry hills near Cheviot in North Canterbury.
• Colin and Stefan Mavor.  The father and son team farm sheep and steer calves on 285ha and lease another 350ha at Roseberry in North Otago.
• Adrian and Anne Lawson.  The Lawsons farm sheep on 163ha on Morton Mains on the Southland Plains.
• Tim and Sara Coop. The Coops farm sheep and beef on 1650ha of dry hills at Port Levy, Banks Peninsula.
• Cameron and Michelle Clark.  The Clarks farm sheep and beef on 400ha (320ha effective) at Purakuiti in the Catlins.

Rabobank, the world's leading specialist food and agribusiness bank, has been a sponsor of the Farmer of the Year awards since 1994. Regional Manager Don Kennedy says the aim of supporting the awards is to encourage excellence and innovation in the farming and agribusiness sector.

New Zealand's largest fertiliser supplier, Ravensdown, became a sponsor last year. It is one of the leading suppliers of agricultural chemicals and animal health products. General Manager Sales, Ross Aimer, says the company welcomes the sharing of knowledge between farmers to ensure industry-wide success.

The winner of the Lincoln University Foundation/Rabobank/Ravensdown Farmer of the Year receives a $15,000 travel award and there is a runner-up prize of $7,500.

• Where: Stewart 2 Lecture Theatre, Lincoln University
• When: 25 November 2008
• Time: 9:30am 20-minute presentations start from each of the five finalists. 12:30pm winner announced

Errol Costello, Professional Development Group, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.