Friday, March 29, 2024

Farm business competition finalists chosen

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The final round of judging for the inaugural Wairere Central Districts Red Meat Farm Business of the Year will begin next week.
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Judges, from left, Mark Chrystall, Sean Stafford and Ally Apthorp, question one of the competitors during the Wairere Central Districts Red Meat Farm Business of the Year competition.

The final round of judging for the inaugural Wairere Central Districts Red Meat Farm Business of the Year will begin next week.

One of the competition’s coordinators, Rob Stratton, says the first round of judging whittled the six entrants down to a final two and their properties will be visited by a judging panel in person.

The first round was judged by former Tararua farmer of the year Ally Apthorp, Taihape farmer Mark Chrystall and rural business adviser and farmer Sean Stafford.

Entrants had half an hour to present their business operation before they were questioned on different aspects of it for a further half hour.

Stafford will also be on the panel for the second round of judging, where he will be joined by Whanganui farmer and farm consultant Rob Gollan, and Hunterville vet and farmer Martin Walshe.

Stratton said organisers have been pleased with the high standard of entrants and he is optimistic they will receive a higher number of entrants in future years.

“We’ve had quite a few say to us ‘not this year but definitely next year we’ll have a crack’,” Stratton said.

He said the quality of the judging is a key part of the event.

“We decided right from the start that the credibility or quality of the competition would come from the quality of the judging,” he said.

“Not only the judging but the feedback we can give to the entrants.

“It’s got to be a positive experience for all, not just find the winner and look after them.”

The winner of the competition will be announced at a function at Orlando Country on March 2, with a field day planned on the winner’s property later in the month.

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