5 November 2010 South Island Farmer of the Year final on campus today

The final round of the 2010 Lincoln University Foundation’s South Island Farmer of the Year competition takes place at Lincoln University today.

This final round involves public presentations by the finalists, of which there are four -

AVERY, Doug, Wendy, Fraser and Shelley of Bonavaree Farm, Marlborough
DALY, Richard and Jen Daly of Windwhistle Pastoral
EVANS, John and Kai Tegels of Tregynon Farm near Dorie
MACKENZIE, Craige and Roz of Greenvale Pastures near Methven.

The Avery family have transformed their drought-prone sheep and beef farm near Seddon and improved profitability.

The Daly family are part owners and managers of a large sheep, deer, beef grazing and cropping farm  company in central Canterbury that has grown substantially in a decade.
John Evans and Kai Tegels run a cropping, sheep and beef operation in Mid-Canterbury using extensive technology to optimise working hours. The farm is involved in multiple research trials.

The Mackenzie family are cropping and dairy farmers from Methven who have patented their own technology and started an agri-advisory business.

The theme for entries this year was “Innovation In Farming” and for the first time the competition was opened to all farming sectors.

Lincoln University Foundation chairman Neil Taylor, who is also a judge, said that high calibre entries were received from throughout the South Island.
 
At stake is a $15,000 travel award for the winner, to be used to explore overseas farming systems. The runner-up receives a $7500 travel award. The farmer who best demonstrates cutting edge implementation of innovation on their farm will win a TM465 GPS system.

The judging panel is made up of Neil Taylor, former Chief Executive of the NZ Meat Board; Bob Simpson, a Senior Tutor in Farm Management at Lincoln University and retired farmer; and Barry Brook, former Chief Executive of PGG Wrightson.

The final starts at 4.00pm with 20-minute presentations by each of the finalists in the Stewart 2 lecture theatre. The winner is expected to be announced by 6.00pm, after which there will be a period of socialising