Thursday, 28 July 2022 16:55

Arable Awards finalists named

Written by Staff Reporters

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Former Federated Farmers Vice President is among those named as a finalist in the 2022 Arable Awards of New Zealand.

The innovators and heroes of New Zealand’s arable industry will be recognised at New Zealand’s Arable Awards next week.

Finalists in each of nine categories have been selected by independent judges for the 2022 Arable Awards of New Zealand, to be presented at a special event at Te Pae, Christchurch, on August 4.

“With Covid, supply chain and workforce disruption, inflation and all the other challenges going on, one might have thought nominating arable industry heroes for awards could slip as a priority,” says Colin Hurst, Federated Farmers Arable Group chairperson and national board member.

But not so, as there were 80 nominations.

“Clearly there are many others who, like Federated Farmers and our Arable Awards partners FAR, United Wheat growers and NZGSTA, recognise the value of celebrating and honouring the leaders and rising stars among our arable producers,” he says.

Judges have named Federated Farmers Southland President, Arable executive member David Birket and immediate past national vice-president Karen Williams (along with her husband Mick) as the three finalists for Arable Farmer of the Year.

“We are excited to bring the Arable Awards of New Zealand to life, an event put together by industry, for industry,” Hurst says.

Finalists

Agronomist of the Year

Anna Gillum
David Weith
Roger Lasham
Rowland Tsimba

Grower of the Year – Grain

David & Anna Irving
Geoff Maw
Will MacKenzie

Grower of the Year – Small Seed

Hamis Marr
John McCaw
Ronald Hydes

Grower of the Year – Maize

Alastair Barnett
Chris Pellow

Emerging Talent Award

Andrew Darling
Ethan Flack
Lauren Beattie

Environment & Sustainability Award

Karen & Mick Williams
Simon Osborne
Taggart Farms Ltd.

Arable Farmer of the Year

David Birkett
Karen & Mick Williams
Chris Dillon

Innovation Award

Auld Distillery
E-Check Far Environment Team
Hopefield Hemp

Arable Food Champion

Angela Clifford
Blair & Jody Drysdale

Rob & Toni Auld

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