Sheep Industry Awards celebrate success

Sheep Industry Awards celebrate success

11 April 2016

This country’s sheep industry will celebrate its best and brightest at Beef +Lamb New Zealand’s fifth annual New Zealand Sheep Industry Awards in the Wairarapa in July.

Entries are open for the Awards which recognises this country’s top sheep farmers, breeders, scientists and industry innovators.

People can put their name forward, or be nominated for the Award categories; Science Trainer of the Year, Innovation, Significant Contribution to the New Zealand Sheep Industry and the Emerging Talent Award.

South Otago farmer Hamish Bielski won the inaugural Ballance Agri-Nutrients Emerging Talent Award last year. He hoped that in receiving the award, he highlighted to other aspiring young farmers that there is a pathway to farm ownership in the sheep sector.

Hamish and his wife Amy are now equity partners in a 300ha sheep, beef and cropping business, having worked their way through various shepherd and management roles on sheep and beef farms. Financially disciplined, the couple saved more than they spent and took investment opportunities whenever they arose.

Hamish also found time for industry involvement and is chair of B+LNZ’s Southern South Island Farmer Council.

A great advocate for the sheep industry, Hamish says the Sheep Industry Awards play a crucial role in recognising good people and celebrating success.

He acknowledges that, like many industries, it is easy to focus on negative issues for which there are no easy solutions.

“The Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the significant milestones we, as an industry, have achieved.

Entries for the Sheep Industry Awards close on Friday 22 April 2016.

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