Shortlist for the Agribusiness Person of the Year Award at Federated Farmers 2011 National Conference
Federated Farmers has settled on an impressive shortlist for the 2011 Agribusiness Person of the Year Award. This will be presented as part of the Federated Farmers Awards evening at its 2011 National conference being held in Rotorua.
“The judges’ will have a tough time selecting New Zealand’s third Agribusiness Person of the Year who will be announced at Federated Farmers National Conference next week,” says Don Nicolson, Federated Farmers President.
The 2011 Agribusiness Person of the Year nominees are:
§ Andrew Ferrier- Chief Executive Officer, Fonterra
§ Dr Douglas Edmeades- Managing Director, agKnowledge
§ Larry Bilodeau- Chief Executive, Ballance Agri-nutrients
§ Barry Quayle- General Manager, NZ National Fieldays
§ Craig Hickson- Managing Director, Progressive Meats
“This award recognises a person who has made a significant contribution to the business of agriculture through innovation, determination, growth and leadership. The 2010 winner was Sir Graeme Harrison, the Wellington based founder and chairman of ANZCO Foods limited,” Mr Nicolson continued.
“This year’s winner will be announced at our third annual awards evening on Thursday, 30 June.
“Other awards presented on the night will be the Federated Farmers Agri Personality of the Year award. This celebrates a special individual who has contributed been a “farming figurehead” over the last year.
“Last year, eco-anarchist and would-be commercial weka farmer Roger Beattie of Banks Peninsula took this award home. We look forward with anticipation to see who will be the winner this year.
“Our National Conference also provides the only opportunity to bring all agriculture’s award winners together under the same roof. The Federated Farmers Cream of the Crop awards recognises those who have won various national awards over the past twelve months.
“The Cream of the Crop includes 2011 New Zealand Dairy Award (NZDIA) winners, including the Farm Manager of the Year, Sharemilker of the Year and Sharemilker Trainee of the Year.
“It also includes the 2010 National Bank Young Farmer of the Year, the 2011 Rural Women New Zealand Enterprising Rural Women Award winner, the holders of the 2011 Ahuwhenua Trophy – BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award 2011 (sheep and beef) and the 2011 supreme award winners of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
““Farming is New Zealand’s largest, most dynamic and most important export industry, and the Federated farmers National Conference is a chance to showcase how progressive and sophisticated agriculture truly is.
“Federated Farmers wishes to invite everyone to be a part of our National Awards as we celebrate the best of the very best,” Mr Nicolson concluded.
The judges are:
Peter Buckley (Waikato Regional Council chairman)
Kevin Winters (Mayor of Rotorua)
Noeline Taurua (Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic coach)
Sir Colin Meads (legendary All Black)
Jamie Fitzgerald (first New Zealander to reach the South Pole unsupported)
The Federated Farmers Awards dinner is jointly sponsored by Te Kuiti Meat Processors and Progressive Meats.
Vodafone is sponsoring the Federated Farmers Agribusiness Person of the Year and Personality of the Year awards.
Ravensdown is sponsoring the Federated Farmers ‘Cream of the Crop’ award.