Zanda McDonald Award finalists unveiled
The Zanda McDonald Award has announced its six finalists for the 2024 accolade.
Sam Vivian-Greer, a farm consultant at BakerAg in Wairarapa, has been named the winner of the 2021 New Zealand Zanda McDonald Award.
The award was presented in a dawn ceremony at Whangara Farms, north of Gisborne, last month.
The award, which is presented annually, recognises young professionals in the sector from Australia and New Zealand.
Normally, the Award would crown one winner from across Australasia but due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions, an Australian and New Zealand winner have been crowned for 2021.
"It's a huge honour, and I'm just blown away," says Vivian-Greer of his win.
"I'm really looking forward to spending time with top ag leaders in New Zealand and Australia, finding out more about how they tick, and how I can apply those learnings to my own career, and the ag sector," he says.
Zanda McDonald Award patron Shane McManaway says that Sam is a warm and professional person with a strong passion for agriculture who is having a positive influence on the sector.
"The judging team was really impressed with his dedication to his role, his leadership and spirit," says McManaway.
"We're excited to see what the future holds for Sam, and look forward to helping him calve out his path through the opportunities provided by the Award," he says.
As the winner of the award, Vivian-Greer will receive a professional development package which includes ana all-expenses paid trans-Tasman mentoring trip to high-performing farms and businesses in Australia and New Zealand. It also includes $10,000 to go towards further education and networking opportunities.
Craighead Diocesan, Darfield High School and Christchurch Boys' High School took out the three age groups at the Canterbury Clash of the Colleges, which was held at the recent Ashburton A&P Show.
The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) is expanding its collaboration with TextileGenesis to deliver full traceability for 100% of ZQ certified wool and ZQRX regenerative wool.
According to Federated Farmers, Environment Southland has mishandled the consent process for Waituna Lagoon, leaving the community with numerous bad outcomes.
Metallica's charitable foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), teamed up with Meet the Need this week for a food packing event held at the New Zealand Food Network warehouse in Auckland.
After two years, Alliance Group has returned to profit.
According to Zespri's November forecast for the 2025/26 season, returns are likely to be up for all fruit groups compared to the last forecast in August.
OPINION: Is it now time for the country's top agricultural university to start thinking about a name change - something…
OPINION: If David Seymour's much-trumpeted Ministry for Regulation wants a serious job they need look no further than reviewing the…