Replacing what was formerly known as the Tri-Lamb programme, the ambassadors programme was an opportunity for the best and brightest of young sheep industry talent to share ideas, knowledge and look at ways they can collaborate to promote sheep farming and the consumption of sheep meat internationally.
It was NZ’s turn to host the annual event and Beef + Lamb NZ chairman Andrew Morrison said it showcased NZ’s grass-fed farm systems.
The ambassadors saw first-hand some of the practices that allow farmers to deal with climate and business challenges and capitalise on this country’s unique environment.
They also met people working at every stage of the value-chain from farmers to processors and marketers.
B+LNZ international trade manager Esther Guy-Meakin who, with B+LNZ director Phil Smith accompanied the group as it toured the country, says the key objective was to create a greater understanding of NZ farm systems.
“I’m hoping those future leaders took away some real nuggets of knowledge after gaining insight into a different way of doing things.”
The ambassadors ranged in age from 25 to 40 and came from a variety of backgrounds, from farmers to research scientists and agribusiness professionals.
Esther said the programme aims to create international networks and that has certainly happened with previous ambassadors who continue to discuss issues and challenges among their year-group peers from all three countries.
While everyone’s day-to-day realities are different the programme shows there are more commonalities than differences.
“A lot of the challenges and opportunities they were facing were all the same.”
The tour – which covered both islands – took in visits to sheep research centres, several farms including the Maori Corporation farm Gwavas Station and B+LNZ’s Future Farm Lanercost, a seed company, Merino NZ, Progressive Meat’s processing plant and a B+LNZ innovation farm.
One of the highlights was a visit to Katey Craig’s Otitahi Farm in Taranaki.
Craig, who was an ambassador in 2018, is a full-time shearer and leases a 200ha sheep and beef farm where she runs breeding ewes and trading cattle.
The ambassadors saw how Craig, 26, is forging a path to farm ownership at such a young age, driven by a very strong work ethic and natural talent.
The group met industry leaders including Morrison and B+LNZ chief executive Sam McIvor.
Morrison is confident in the future of the sheep industry after meeting the ambassadors.
“As an industry it is the discussions that we are having across borders that heartens me.
“Irrespective of where we farm, we all want to produce a quality product and get properly rewarded for it.
“That is a shared aspiration.”
