CHB couple win top-farmer prize

ROSE HARDING
Chris and Hanne Hardy, of Makaretu, in Central Hawke's Bay, are the PPCS Hawke's Bay Farmers of the Year. The couple farm sheep and cattle with some deer, under the Ruahine Ranges west of Waipukurau.
In 10 years they have lifted their land and stock numbers from 2100 stock units on 256ha in 1997 to 22,500 on 1950ha this year, owned, leased and through equity partnerships.
The judges, at a formal awards dinner held at the Cheval Room in Hastings last night, described them as committed, passionate and hard-working, with strong goals and objectives for land ownership by building equity through their farming operations.
Chris Hardy said today the couple had started out by leasing the farm next door to their family farm to see whether they "really wanted to go farming". They planned to lease more land in the future.
A field day will be held on their property on May 11.
The competition and awards dinner are run by the Hawke's Bay A and P Society. The Laurie Dowling Memorial Award, went to Waipukurau vet Bert Middleberg for his service to the agricultural industry.
The Hardys won $10,000 from PPCS, $2000 from Rabobank, $1500 of animal-health products from Ancare and $2500 of fertiliser from Ravensdown and a silver tray.