There were tears and a standing ovation from farmers gathered at the 2004 Manawatu-Rangitikei sharemilker of the year awards dinner as Moutoa farmers and flood victims Brendon and Karen Stent took out the top prize.
It was the event of the year for more 300 dairy farmers and competition sponsors attending
the formal dinner, which recognised the Horowhenua farmers who won despite having no farm or cattle after the floods, which also destroyed some of their herd's records.
The couple had considered withdrawing from the competition when their 282ha farm, owned by Landcorp, was devastated by flood water six weeks ago. About 80 per cent of the land was under water for many weeks.
Horowhenua farmers have won the competition four out of the last five times.
Three of those winners, Dean Bailey and Anna Davis, Murray and Nikki Hawkings and now the Stents, farm in the Moutoa Basin, which was flooded in February when stopbanks that protect it from the Manawatu River were breached.
For the Stents it was a culmination of hard work, determination and perseverance that gained them first place on their fifth attempt.
"It's been a hard six weeks and the competition was the furthest thing from our mind," Mr Stent said.
"We had so much to do -- cleaning, calving, cows down -- this just takes the cake."
The couple had been running 880 cows on the property and were on target to produce 310,000kg milksolids this season before the flood hit.
The judges saw past the lack of grass and cattle and along with the title of Manawatu-Rangitikei sharemilker of the year the Stents were awarded the Bank of New Zealand financial management award, the Ravensdown pasture management prize and the Naylor Lawrence and Associates best financial and farm records merit award to take their winners pool to $11,000.
The other two Horowhenua entrants also walked away with awards.
Fourth time entrants David and Barbara Hands from Shannon were placed third, winning cash and prizes worth $2100.
First time entrants Stefan and Hester Bryant were awarded the Blue Wing Honda ATV safety award.
- HOROWHENUA-KAPITI CHRONICLE (LEVIN)
