There is no questioning Logan Wallace’s spirit.
The 2018 FMG Young Farmer of the Year has overcome his fair share of adversity but instead of looking for excuses the South Otago sheep farmer prefers to live by the mantra of never giving up.
He has overcome mild dyslexia, which hindered his ability to accurately convey meaning and fact in the written word, and he is naturally shy, proving a barrier with public speaking.
And as a family the Wallaces also rallied to support father Ross overcome depression.
Complementing an indefatigable spirit, Logan said setting fresh goals and targets has helped him overcome those challenges.
An example was in 2016 when he reached the contest’s national finals in Timaru only to uncover several shortcomings, especially with theory and public speaking.
Undeterred, Wallace returned to his 290ha Waipahi sheep farm, which he leases from his family, to work on those weaknesses and return to win the 2018 title.
Wallace has consistently challenged and extended himself to overcome his mild dyslexia and shyness, something he said was aided by joining the Clinton Young Farmers Club.
It gave him confidence while joining Toastmasters turned a fear of public speaking into something he enjoys.
In that year he had off Wallace watched another Otago-Southland regional finalist Nigel Woodhead, who farms 55km up State Highway 1 near Milton, win the 2017 national title.
It was a big decision for Wallace to have another crack given the pressure and the commitment needed but he was also a year wiser and his skill set stronger.
As he entered the contest his family also entered the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards, which they won.
Preparation for those awards ate into three of his planned nine-weeks intensive work for the young farmer final but also helped as he had to analyse his business, be observant and prepare for an interview from the judging panel.
“I wouldn’t recommend doing the two at once but the decision to enter both was made back in August and we thought the Ballance Farm Environment Awards would be well finished in time for the Young Farmer.”
The Ballance judges’ comments provide an insight to the Wallace family, noting it is a supportive, close-knit unit with a clear vision that sets goals and has strong financial discipline.
“They have incredible enthusiasm and a passion to learn taking on ideas, good use of external advice and analysing data for the best outcomes.
“They have a strong environmental focus, land and environment plan, nutrient budgeting, wetland construction, retention of biodiversity and water quality emphasis as well as an outstanding commitment to community and industry.”
A new tool that would prove vital to Wallace’s tilt at the Young Farmer title is his ability to remain calm and focused. It worked.
“I felt no pressure whatsoever, which was much different to the last time,” he said.
During the final buzzer round Wallace’s plan to remain calm was to look at the contest trophy and his family sitting beyond it.
“If I lost focus, that was the point I was going to look at.”
Wallace was surprised by his performance.
He won three of the five sections: the Massey University Agri-Growth, Ravensdown Agri-Skills and Worksafe Agri-Sports and finished 30 points ahead of second-placed Cameron Black.
He was especially surprised to win the Agri-Growth section given his poor performance two years earlier but it reflected the benefit of his preparation.
During a writing exercise he changed tack after 40 minutes to finish in time while ensuring he provided as many key points as he could.
On being announced the winner, the night’s events became a blur, with little recollection other than standing on stage with partner Penny Hicks who was clutching a large bunch of flowers.
Ross and Alexa Wallace started farming Beacon Hill, between Clinton and Waipahi, in 1988.
It was leased out between 2009 and 2013 while his father dealt with health issues and Logan was overseas gaining experience working in farms in West Australia and Britain.
When he returned the succession plan was adopted and Wallace, now a third shareholder in Beacon Hill, bought the stock and plant.
The succession plan allows Wallace’s parents and sister Emily, a pharmacist, to be all treated equally.
The farm today is 270ha effective, of which 30ha is in tussock, running 2300 Romney-Texel ewes, 700 ewe hoggets and room for 400 stock units for trading.
Wallace attended Gore High School but due to his dyslexia chose tertiary study at what was then Telford Rural Polytechnic near Balclutha because of its emphasis on practical training.
He gained a rural business diploma and an agriculture certificate.
While not the first contest winner without a university degree, Wallace said his victory showed it can still be done.
He has extensive community involvement. For 11 years he has led a youth group at the Calvin Community Church in Gore, for several years has been a member of the Eastern Southland Land Search and Rescue and was a member of the Pomahaka Watercare Group.
One of Wallace’s next tasks is to set new goals, which could include opportunities for off-farm roles, such as last year’s contest winner Nigel Woodhead who has an observer’s role on the Government’s new Primary Sector Council.
Before this year’s contest several groups had been pushing for Wallace to have a seat on the Water Forum, something he was keen to pursue.
Wallace said involvement in NZ Young Farmers has helped him on many levels.
“It has given me confidence to put myself out there as I used to be quite quiet. It has also helped me really build my leadership skills.”
