The institute, which will announce the winner alongside Farmax, at its national conference in August, is helping Farmax organise the awards and chairing the judging panel.
The organisers of the award are broadening its definition of farm consultants, making its Consultant of the Year award achievable for any rural professionals.
“We felt it was a no brainer to partner with NZIMPIM for these awards, the target market of the now widened criteria aligns perfectly with the institute’s membership base,” Farmax general manager Gavin McEwen said.
“Through the institute’s networks were hoping to reach a wider base of rural professionals. NZIPIM involvement extends to chairing the judging lending their neutrality to the process and helping design the nomination process. This year’s awards will involve more one on one communication with the nominees, giving them the opportunity to personally demonstrate their distinction in their respective fields.”
“The respective sheep and beef and dairy awards will be open to any rural professionals providing advice or consultancy to NZ farmers. This may be a farm consultant, a bank manager, a scientist, a sales rep, an industry trainer or any other individual that can demonstrate they make a positive impact on NZ farmers’ business and the industry through their work,” McEwen said.
The nation’s best rural professionals will be eligible for the Beef + Lamb NZ Sheep and Beef Consultant of the Year, Dairy NZ Dairy Consultant of the Year and NZIPIM Emerging Rural Professional of the Year.
The prize package includes a Microsoft Surface tablet personal computer, and funding that can go toward professional development or fund an overseas conference or project. How the nominees intend to use the funds will be considered as part of the judging process
Rural professionals do not have to be Farmax users to qualify, and are encouraged to nominate themselves.
NZIPIM will chair the judging panel and help Farmax organise the awards.
Winners will be announced at the NZIPIM National Conference at Rydges Rotorua, on August 8.
Last year’s awards went to Sully Alsop of Baker and Associates in Masterton, and Phil Journeaux and Lycinda Lett of AgFirst’s Waikato office in Hamilton.
From May 2, award nomination forms can be downloaded from the Farmax website at www.farmax.co.nz. Nominations close on July 1.
