New Vice-president For Federated Farmers

Golden Bay dairy farmer Wayne Langford has been elected vice-president of Federated Farmers at the association’s AGM in Auckland today.

He will be joined on the board by three new board members, new dairy chair Richard McIntyre and two ‘at large’ members Sandra Faulkner and Mark Hooper.

Wayne served as Feds dairy industry chair for the last two years.

President Andrew Hoggard was re-elected unopposed.

Board vacancies were created when Chris Lewis, Chris Allen and Vice-President Karen Williams stepped down.

Feds CEO Terry Copeland told the meeting the fact a number of people had put their hands up for board positions was a sign the organisation is in good health. The other vice-president nomination was from former Otago provincial president Simon Davies.

The role of vice-president is seen as a stepping stone to the Feds’ president role, arguably one of the most influential in agriculture but also one that is demanding and time-consuming, Terry said. It’s positive that highly able and experienced candidates sought the V-P post.

Wayne told the AGM there was no shortage of challenges facing agriculture "but I believe we have more opportunities in front of us than we do headwinds".

With local body elections this year, and a general election next year, Federated Farmers’ advocacy efforts were vital, he said.

Leaders of the Federated Farmers’ three industry groups were elected by delegates from 24 provinces at the sector AGMs yesterday. Those elected are: Colin Hurst (Arable Industry Chair), Richard McIntyre (Dairy Industry Chair) and William Beetham (Meat & Wool Industry Chair). All three also join the national board.

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