Wairarapa Sheep & Beef Farm Business of the Year Competition

Keinzley Agvet Wairarapa Sheep and Beef Farm Business of the Year Competition

The annual Keinzley Agvet Wairarapa Sheep and Beef Farm Business of the Year competition is calling for final entries before it closes on Friday 28 November 2014.

The aim of the competition is to promote innovative sheep and beef farming practice by identifying farmers in the area that demonstrate a well-balanced and positive approach to their business. These attributes will be promoted at a public field day which will be held on the winner’s property in early 2015. During the day the winner shares their management policies and farming objectives and answers questions from other farmers. These field days usually attract around 150 farmers and are a valuable opportunity to network and share ideas and knowledge.

The competition is open to any farmer, (lessee or owner), or farm manager in the region, whose farm income is derived mainly from sheep and cattle. Previous entrants of this competition are eligible and encouraged to re-enter. The prize package is approximately in $30,000 in cash and products.

Sully Alsop from Baker & Associates Ltd says the calibre of Farm Business of the Year entries is always high. “We have some outstanding farmers in the area, people who work hard to create innovative, thriving businesses and who are always thinking, what can I do next to improve the farm?”

Contact Delwyn Pringle delwyn@bakerag.co.nz at Baker and Associates if you would like to enter or have questions about this competition.

A highlight at the field day is the announcement of the winner of the Taratahi Shepherd of the Year competition. This competition, in its second year, is designed to recognise the value of young shepherds (19-26 years) and to broaden the base of skills at sub-management level for people that will have an influence on the future of farming in Wairarapa.

Entries to the Taratahi Shepherd of the Year competition open on 1 December and close 27 February 2015. Contact Delwyn Pringle at Baker and Associates for more information or an entry form.

Background
In August 2014 Taratahi won the ‘Primary ITO Trainer of the Year’ award at the beef+lamb NZ Industry Awards.

Taratahi has been successfully training Kiwis for agricultural careers since 1919.

Taratahi’s own assets or assets they manage on behalf of others, now equate to over $100m. Taratahi has 50,000 stock units of sheep, beef and deer and milk 3250 cows per year.

The main campus is based near Masterton in the Wairarapa, with non-residential campuses in Northland, Rodney, Auckland, Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay and Southland.

Taratahi offers full-time courses, diploma programmes, extra mural study, short courses and STAR/Gateway programmes as well as the Primary Industries Trades Academy.

ENDS

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