Red meat producers make up three of the four finalists in the 2015 Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year competition.
The winner, who will receive a $20,000 Lincoln University Foundation grant for business-related travel and study, will be announced at a function at the university on Wednesday.
The finalists are Richard and Annabelle Subtil, of Omarama Station; Coleridge Downs Ltd, a high country beef, sheep and deer enterprise in the Rakaia Gorge managed by Tony and Pam Plunkett; Kilbrannan Farm, an organic sheep and beef property farmed by Paul and Tracey Ruddenklau at Te Anau; and Clearwater Mussels, a greenshell mussel producer with 90 farms in the Marlborough Sounds, processing for food and pharmaceutical markets.
The four finalists were whittled down from 12 entrants throughout the South Island. They have all been visited by the foundation's senior judging panel and will earn final points from a presentation to judges and a live audience on Wednesday.
All finalists demonstrated excellence, innovation and leadership across all of the judging categories. What stood out was the effort they put into their staff, judging co-ordinator Tricia Macfarlane said.
A panel discussion on the future of agriculture will be held at the function, featuring Westland Milk Products chief executive Rod Quin, Silver Fern Farms chairman Rob Hewett and Scales Corporation managing director Andy Borland.