Making the cut for best kiwi lamb

Judging the 2016 competition.

Jane Leogreen, Dannevirke (Texel/Perendale/Romney) is one of the much anticipated finalists in the 2017 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Golden Lamb Awards (aka The Glammies) which have been announced.

Twenty finalists across the nation have made the cut and being a nation known for its lamb - the pressure is on.

The top 20 have taken out 166 other entries for a place in the Grand Final, held at the Wanaka A&P Show on March 10, in the hunt for the most tender and tasty lamb.

Grand Final head judge and President of the New Zealand Chefs Association, Graham Hawkes says Kiwis should be proud of the farmers who produce lamb of the highest quality.

"I whole-heartedly believe New Zealand has the best lamb in the world and I think we should be celebrating the work and efforts of our world-class producers," says Hawkes.

"As a chef, I do my best to create innovative and interesting dishes and, as a consumer, I enjoy what's on my plate but I'd like to encourage New Zealanders to acknowledge the farmers who make that a reality."

Each of the finalist's lamb went through rigorous scientific testing to assess the tenderness, yield, colour and succulence of the lamb.

From here they will be judged in two rounds at the Grand Final by six of New Zealand's leading chefs.

2017 marks 10 years of the competition with a special award to announce the Producer of the Decade taking place during the final prizegiving.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chief Executive Sam McIvor said the Glammies is a great way to showcase the premium protein grown by New Zealand sheep farmers.

"We've been staging the event for 10 years and it's a great platform to highlight the attributes that make New Zealand lamb a favourite with consumers both here and around the world but also how farmers and processors work together to ensure that consistent result time after time. That's what sets us apart from other lamb producers around the world."

Those attending the Glammies will have the opportunity to meet three of our nation's top athletes, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Iron Maidens Lisa Carrington, Sarah Walker and Caroline Evers-Swindell.

2017 Beef + Lamb New Zealand Golden Lamb Awards Finalists:

Class 1 / best of breed: traditional - Robert Gardyne, Oturehua (Perendale), processed at Alliance Lorneville. Paul, Rachel, Mark, Louise Heslip, Dipton (Perendale/Romney), processed at Alliance Lorneville. Hamish Mackay, Gore (Romney), processed at Alliance Lorneville. Don Morrison, Gore (Romney), processed at Alliance Lorneville.

Class 2 / best of breed: crossbreed - Charles Crutchley, Ranfurly (Texel/Perendale/Romney), processed at Oamaru Meats. Jane Leogreen, Dannevirke (Texel/Perendale/Romney), processed at Alliance Dannevirke. Hayden Peter, Wyndham (Greeline), processed at Alliance Lorneville. Roger & Alison Thomas, Tuatapere (Perendale/Texel), processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane.

Class 3 / best of breed: terminal cross - Gary Fordyce, Gore (Composite/Texel X), processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane. Don Morrison, Gore (Growbulk/Charrollais), processed at Alliance Lorneville. Allan Patterson, Otautau (CoopTexel/Texel), processed at Alliance Lorneville. Matt Wyeth, Masterton (Highlander/Primera), processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau.

Class 4 / best of breed: open: Doug Brown, Oamaru (Poll Dorset/Texel), processed at Alliance Smithfield. Forbes Cameron, Ashhurst (Growbulk), processed at Alliance Dannevirke. Robert Gardyne, Oturehua (Perendale/Suffolk/Texel), processed at Alliance Lorneville. Peter Sim, Garston (Textra), processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane.

Class 5 /: retail - Countdown North Island (South Suffolk/Romney from Ruakiwi, Kaikohe). Countdown North Island (Southdown/Texel/Romney, from DI Cathcart, Huntly). Lifestyle Meats (Texel Perendale, from Ohakune). Pure South, Alliance Meats (Romney/Texel, from JW, JC and JR Clark, Milton).