Wednesday, 15 January 2025 14:55

Celebrations at Muller Station

Written by  Staff Reporters
More than 260 people gathered at Muller Station in Marlborough recently to celebrate the 2024 Westpac + OsGro Marlborough Farmer of the Year winner. More than 260 people gathered at Muller Station in Marlborough recently to celebrate the 2024 Westpac + OsGro Marlborough Farmer of the Year winner.

More than 260 people gathered at Muller Station in Marlborough recently to celebrate the 2024 Westpac + OsGro Marlborough Farmer of the Year winner.

Winners of the 2024 award, the Sattherwaite family hosted the event, showcasing their farming achievements.

The day began with a farm tour, where attendees had the opportunity to explore Muller Station and see firsthand how the family has achieved its production gains.

Steve and Mary Sattherwaite, owners of Muller Station, estimate that more than $4 million has gone into weed and pest control over the past two decades.

They describe this investment as non-negotiable.

Meanwhile, Beef + Lamb NZ (B+LNZ) chair Kate Acland, who attended the event, describes the property as vast and impressive.

She says it has benefited from a depth of knowledge and passion from the two generations actively farming the land.

“What was even more impressive than their quality stock and excellent production figures was the absolute commitment and dedication to the management of this highly significant landscape and the biodiversity that sits within it,” Acland says.

Following the farm tour, attendees gathered back at the woolshed for speeches and celebrations, including an address from Acland who thanked hill country farmers.

“It’s important to recognise the excellent and critical role that our hill and high country farmers play in protecting our iconic landscapes, maintaining our indigenous biodiversity and managing invasive weed and pests,” she says.

B+LNZ is a sponsor of the Marlborough Farmer of the Year Award, powered by the B+LNZ Northern South Island Farmer Council.

B+LNZ extension manager for Tasman and Marlborough, Amanda Henderson says she was thrilled by the turnout.

“The Marlborough Farmer of the Year committee and Satterthwaite family put on a fantastic day, their time and effort into this event was reflected in the excellent turnout and a successful day enjoyed by all,” Henderson says.

“It was a real privilege to see a snapshot of high-country life at the Muller and the next generation being involved in the success of their farming business,” she says.   

More like this

Farmers back Government pause on RMA plan changes

There's been widespread support from the primary sector for the Government's move to put the brakes on local authorities to do any more work on planning changes ahead of major changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA).

Featured

Australia develops first local mRNA FMD vaccine

Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.

NZ household food waste falls again

Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.

Editorial: No joking matter

OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

A step too far

OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…

Save us from SAFE

OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter