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There is also little farmers and growers can do about weather, commodity prices — although a shout-out to those fabulous southern on-farm businesses which are diversifying their wool clip into an array of home and fashion products — I’m looking at you The Clip, Ater, Lora & Flok, Mt Nicholas, Davaar and Co, West Ridge, and McIvor Hill to name just a few — and ever-increasing on-farm costs.
But what we all can do is take a minute to focus on the positives and raise a glass — be it of Taieri pasture-raised milk, a Central Otago pinot noir, or a whisky produced from Southland barley — to our Rural Champions; those who have chosen life on the land, with all the challenges that entails while also making their rural communities a better place to live.
We can heed the words of mental health champion Sir John Kirwan, who officially launched the Otago Daily Times-Rural Life Rural Champions campaign at the Wānaka A&P Show in March by encouraging farmers to stop worrying about factors out of their control, share their issues, get off the farm, and do other things.
Last year’s Year of the Farmer campaign was a resounding success, capped off by naming the indomitable Myfanwy Alexander, from Duntroon, as our inaugural Rural Champion. Since then, Myfanwy has continued her fabulous work in the agricultural sector, including launching a podcast with her friend Emily Walker called Ag in Conversation, and being named a finalist in the Dairy Woman of the Year. I am excited to see what other great things are around the corner for her.
It seemed that Year of the Farmer would be hard to top but, after making the call for nominations for our 2024 Rural Champions campaign, they flooded in from the north and south of the South Island, and the east and west.
This year, we added an additional category — those who work in rural support; the often behind-the-scenes folk critical to the smooth running of farming and growing operations — and we were delighted with the breadth of nominations.
During these uncertain times, the stories captured in this publication are a salient reminder of all that is good about New Zealand’s rural sector. Humble, hardworking folk who persevere among a myriad of challenges, adapting and innovating to sustain their farms, support their families, and contribute to the wellbeing of their communities.
Now our judges — Myfanwy, Rabobank’s acting chief sustainability officer Blake Holgate, a representative from Landpro, and myself — have the hard task of deliberating.
In October, one outstanding food producer will be named our Rural Champion — along with our champion rural services provider — and we will again celebrate their contribution to the rural sector. I can’t wait.
Sally Rae
Business and Rural Editor
Farmers and Growers
Solar farm a massive undertaking
Solar farm a massive undertaking
Mum ‘deserves all the kudos’ for farm
Mum ‘deserves all the kudos’ for farm
‘Huge’ community involvement noted
‘Huge’ community involvement noted
Vocational workforce training a passion
Vocational workforce training a passion
Beekeeper harnessing the power of ADHD
Beekeeper harnessing the power of ADHD
Couple setting others up for success
Couple setting others up for success
Sights set on a veterinary practice
Sights set on a veterinary practice
Pair ‘keep it real’ in showing challenges
Pair ‘keep it real’ in showing challenges
Making himself heard for the sake of others
Making himself heard for the sake of others
Love of outdoors led to life on farms
Love of outdoors led to life on farms
Through highs and lows
Through highs and lows
Rural Service Providers
Team work key to managerial success
Team work key to managerial success
Much more than just a veterinarian
Much more than just a veterinarian
Growing connections, opportunities to help farmers
Growing connections, opportunities to help farmers
Agri managing role all about people
Agri managing role all about people
Helping out farmers where they can
Helping out farmers where they can
Pair providing venison for those in need
Pair providing venison for those in need
Going above and beyond for clients
Going above and beyond for clients
Linking ‘people and places to nature’
Linking ‘people and places to nature’
Accidental business cutting waste
Accidental business cutting waste
Rolling up his sleeves to help others
Rolling up his sleeves to help others
Working to better rural mental health
Working to better rural mental health
Following father’s lead in navigating farm complexities
Following father’s lead in navigating farm complexities
Excited to be home, ready to help
Excited to be home, ready to help
Going the extra mile for livestock, sports and children
Going the extra mile for livestock, sports and children
Dunedin man big on keeping on top of mental health
Dunedin man big on keeping on top of mental health
Fitness studio aims to connect people
Fitness studio aims to connect people
Fight against Tb ‘hugely satisfying’
Fight against Tb ‘hugely satisfying’
Sisters thriving on family farm
Sisters thriving on family farm
Leadership role in floriculture industry
Leadership role in floriculture industry
Humble nominee needed to be urged
Humble nominee needed to be urged
Couple inspired by Christian faith
Couple inspired by Christian faith
Reaching the world from the farm
Reaching the world from the farm
Resilience a way of life
Resilience a way of life
Duntroon woman a community stalwart
Duntroon woman a community stalwart
Enabling positive change the goal
Enabling positive change the goal
‘Town girl’ fierce backer of rural sector
‘Town girl’ fierce backer of rural sector
At the market hail or shine
At the market hail or shine
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