Entries are being taken for the 2026 Gisborne Wairoa Hill Country Farmer of the Year competition won by Mount Florida Station at Tiniroto (pictured) when the competition was last held in 2022. Photo / Supplied
Entries are being taken for the 2026 Gisborne Wairoa Hill Country Farmer of the Year competition won by Mount Florida Station at Tiniroto (pictured) when the competition was last held in 2022. Photo / Supplied
Gisborne/Wairoa Federated Farmers and some key agribusiness sponsors have announced the resurgence of the Hill Country Farmer of the Year competition for the province.
It was last held in 2022 and was won by the Mount Florida team from Tiniroto.
“This will be the 22nd running of this competition whichhas now been running for more than 30 years, starting way back in 1981,” competition spokesman Peter Andrew said.
“This is our premier award for the sheep and beef farmers in this district.”
Excellence in financial performance, sustainability and stock policies are key factors in deciding the winners.
Previous winners include Svarn and Sharelle Creswell of Mount Florida Station at Tiniroto in 2022; Peter and Christine Reeves of Mokairau Farm Ltd at Whangara in 2018; and Rob and Karen Newman of Tiniroto Station in 2014.
Organisers plan to have a field day on the successful property in the March–April period.
Interested farmers can contact AgFirst at (06)8684144 for an entry form.
Mokairau at Whāngārā is a previous winner of the competition and hosted a field day as part of it. Photo/ Murray Robertson
“We are also pleased to introduce two exciting new awards,” Andrew said.
“The Future Leader Award will recognise a worker in our industry with passion [and] who has the potential to grow and develop into a leader in our farming community.
“The Lifetime Achievement Award will recognise a person who has contributed significantly through their work or voluntarily for the betterment of farming in the region over a substantial period of time.”
