“It’s very important that we take every opportunity to show politicians and our friends in the urban community what farmers are trying to achieve in terms of sustainability.”
The Sustainability Showcase was the highlight of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards programme, and this year’s event would wrap up another successful year for the awards.
“We’ve had 10 outstanding award ceremonies around the country and seen some amazing farming talent.
“Now we bring the cream of the crop together to applaud their achievements and choose a new ambassador for NZ agriculture.”
This year’s supreme winners are:
- Frans, Tineke and Talbert de Jong and Emily Meese, Waikato
- John and Catherine Ford, Bay of Plenty
- Rachel and Greig Alexander, Northland
- Mark and Jacqui Muller and Conrad Maeke, Taranaki
- Alastair, Tracy and Daniel Ormond, East Coast
- Leo and Rebecca Vollebregt, Greater Wellington
- Willie Akers, Hugh and Judy Akers and Laura Oughton, Horizons (Manawatu-Wanganui)
- Richard and Annabelle Subtil, Canterbury
- Dave and Janene Divers, Otago, and
- Robert and Anna Kempthorne, Southland.
Natzke said supreme winners appreciated the opportunity to socialise in the two to three days leading up to the showcase, and the event provided them with the ideal forum to share their philosophies and discuss some of the common factors behind their successes.
“They enjoy being able to present their farming operations to the other supreme winners and hearing about what other supreme winners are doing on their farms. They also get the chance to meet other leaders from all walks of the industry.”
About 300 guests were expected at the dinner including farm and agribusiness leaders, government officials and representatives from a range of environmental agencies.
