Congratulations to the inaugural Gordon Stephenson trophy winners
Tuesday 28 June 2011, 10:24AM
By Federated Farmers of New Zealand
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Federated Farmers congratulates Southland farmers Grant and Bernadette Weller, the first ever winners of the National Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The couple won the Gordon Stephenson Trophy on Saturday at the New Zealand Farm Environment Award Trust’s Sustainability Showcase in Hastings.
“It is important that we celebrate success in agriculture and acknowledge those who display excellence in their custodianship role of the land, water and other resources,” says Federated Farmers Chief Executive Officer Conor English.
“Against some strong competition, Grant and Bernadette Weller took home the first ever supreme award handed out by the New Zealand Farm Environment Award Trust.
“When it comes to sustainability, the Wellers certainly walk the walk. ’Crosshill’, their 890ha sheep and beef operation in northern Southland, is a showcase of farming in an environmentally sensitive manner in a profitable way.
“This is exactly the type of innovation which leads Federated Farmers to support the awards by being a member of the New Zealand Farm Environment Award Trust.
“Federated Farmers also congratulates the eight other regional Supreme winners in the 2011 Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
“These farmers have reached an exceptional standard to be chosen as the supreme winners in their respective regions.
“We hope the addition of an overall winner each year, celebrating the achievements of Farm Environment Awards founder Gordon Stephenson, will inspire even more farmers to enter in coming years.
“The Wellers will be recognised by Federated Farmers at the Cream of the Crop Awards being held in Rotorua on Thursday 30 June, alongside the 2011 New Zealand Dairy Award winners, the 2010 National Bank Young Farmer of the Year, the 2011 Rural Women New Zealand Enterprising Rural Women Award winner and the holders of the 2011 Ahuwhenua Trophy – BNZ Maori Excellence in Farming Award 2011,” Mr English concluded.
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