Wool Levy Group chairwoman Sandra Faulkner had one major purpose in touring the country and holding meetings about the wool levy vote: to put a name to a face.
But as Mrs Faulkner reached the south of the South Island, holding her last meeting in Otautau last month, she achieved much more than that.
Farmers from throughout New Zealand had put some tough questions on the table for the Muriwai farmer but she responded with the truth, whether it was wanted or not, and gave them all the final message of wool growers needing to stand united.
As the voting cut-off day is this Friday for the wool levy referendum, Mrs Faulkner is urging farmers to get their votes in, as every vote counts.
Mrs Faulkner said they needed more than 50% of wool growers to vote on the referendum to be able to take it back to the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).
The New Zealand Wool Brokers association was also behind Mrs Faulkner and the Wool Levy Group, encouraging every possible voter to do so. New Zealand Wool Brokers Association chairman Richard Kells said the levy would ensure New Zealand wool growers stood united and would give the industry a voice with the government and ensure research funding was directed to the best use.
''This is an opportunity to have a say on the future of wool in New Zealand and this opportunity should not be missed.''
Mrs Faulkner spoke to farmers about the work the group had put in over the past four years to get to the voting stage.
She said it was absolutely vital after the vote that she could go back to the MPI and say wool growers had spoken.
''We are on our way, the message is out there.''
''We need to get it across as many people as possible.''
Last week about 30% of sheep farmers had already voted in the referendum.
Mrs Faulkner said her final message was it was now or never for wool growers to get their vote in.
The levy would only be about 2.75c per kilogram of wool.
''Our $700 million industry needs an advocate; the levy will be used to ensure that this happens,'' Mrs Faulkner said.
- by Nicole Sharp