But not me nor all the other people at the Beef + Lamb NZ Sheep Industry Awards in Masterton a couple of weeks ago.
We look at them and think “There is a specific individual who has some qualities its mates lack and I really like the cut of its jib”.
The awards celebrate high-performing sheep farmers and leadership in the sheep industry.
Dairy has long had its own awards recognising success so southern sheep farmers initiated these awards several years ago and they have been a roaring success ever since.
It was good they were held in Wairarapa this year where a lot of great work is done on improving performance and productivity of the nation’s sheep flock.
A good example of this is Derek Daniell who, along with his wife Chris, took over the Wairere Romney stud in 1983 and has turned it into one of the biggest ram-breeding operations in the country.
Daniell is a thoughtful and interesting fellow and has had a big impact on NZ sheep farming. So it was fitting that he was awarded the title of the individual making a significant contribution to the NZ sheep industry.
In the science award, three eminent scientists were nominated. Knowing all three men, I was pleased I wasn’t judging that category.
He wasn’t able to be there and I think might have been over at Wimbledon watching his talented son play in the tennis doubles.
In the science award, three eminent scientists were nominated. Knowing all three men, I was pleased I wasn’t judging that category.
Dr Sin Phua has been at the forefront of facial eczema research for more than 20 years. His genetic research on the disease is giving us the genomic tools to identify resistant animals.
Dr Peter Amer from AbacusBio has been heavily involved in providing tools to make successful livestock breeding programmes for many years.
Dr Dave Leathwick from AgResearch Grasslands has been instrumental in providing us with the means and information to reduce internal parasite resistance to anthelmintic drenches. Vets and farmers are constantly using the strategies he has developed to help us lessen potential productivity losses from worms and ineffective drenches.
In the end Leathwick came out the winner but the other two and countless other scientists contribute to our industry and all of our livelihoods and it is great to see them acknowledged and know that they are appreciated.
James and Jane Hunter are mates not far from here out at Blackhead and it was great to see them come away as the industry supplier of the year. Well-deserved and having given Lean Meats 12 years of loyal supply and able to supply lambs for 12 months of the year into the high valued chilled market shows that this loyalty and commitment is beneficial to both farmer and exporter.
Another mate, Edward Dinger from the MNCC Coopworth stud won maternal worth, one of the genetics awards. Dinger has only recently retired from ram breeding but his passion has remained undimmed.
Gordon Levet, like Dinger, has been determined for decades to improve his Romney stud and in turn his clients’ sheep. In his case it has been an unwavering commitment to breeding towards worm resistance and this was acknowledged with him receiving the innovation award.
A special award for services to the sheep industry went to Emily Crofoot from Castlepoint Station. This recognised Emily’s contribution to leadership, extension, innovation and research programmes and was very well deserved.
I was honoured to be able to say a few words of our thanks and appreciation to Dr Mark Young who is the senior geneticist for B+LNZ Genetics and after 15 years of excellent service is leaving the industry to work in the UK. He will be greatly missed.
There were other winners of different awards but what was great was the positive feeling towards the industry in the room.
And a love of sheep of course.
