Kaitaia farmers: There's more to farming awards than winning

Mark Corby and Gay Pembroke say they gained a great deal from their Ballance Farm Environment Awards experience.

Kaitaia farmers Mark Corby and Gay Pembroke have not won a Ballance Farm Environment Award, but they aren't complaining.

Simply entering proved to be a great learning experience.

"The past 12 months have been great fun. I think entering the awards and being involved in the process has given us a lot more confidence that what we are doing is on track," Ms Pembroke said.

The couple have owned their dairy support/beef block for three years. Neither are from a farming background, however, and the change that they made in their lives from 4ha to 102ha was exciting but massive.

And they enjoyed networking at the Northland Ballance Awards dinner, as well as the comments and feedback they received from the judges.

"The feedback report they gave us is fabulous - very encouraging. There is a lot of valuable information, great ideas and great concepts. We often refer to it, and have shared it with others," Ms Pembroke added.

The couple did not make it through to the second round of judging, but had no regrets.
"We were not finalists, but that did not dishearten or embarrass us. We definitely recognised the calibre of the finalists and the regional winners."

Entering again was possible.

"We will definitely contemplate it. We have more capital development to do, and we want to finish some of the items mentioned in the feedback report," Mr Corby said. "We would strongly recommend and encourage others to enter. Do not wait until you think that your farm is where you want it to be - enter, and learn as a work in progress.

Entries for this year's awards for farmers and growers are now open. Enter at www.bfea.org.nz, or contact regional co-ordinator Chris Mason at northland@bfea.org.nz, phone (022) 090-0613.

All farmers and horticulturists, including orchardists, vegetable growers and viticulturists within the geographic area covered by the Northland Regional Council are eligible to enter until October 31.

First round judging is in November, when finalists will be decided. After another round of judging, award winners and the overall supreme winner will be announced at Waitangi on March 21.

National judging co-ordinator Andrea Hanna said judging teams had a wide range of skills, and looked at all parts of the business. Climatic factors were taken into account.

"In the past we've found farmers can be reluctant to enter if their farm or orchard has been affected by wet weather or drought, but the judges know severe climatic events are part of farming and growing, and will look beyond this at the wider picture," she said.

Providing the entrant agreed, people were able to nominate another farming or growing business they felt was worthy or might be interested in the awards programme, she added.