People wishing to enter the Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards have until tomorrow to do so, says Paula Cross.
She and husband Brendon are sheep and beef farmers at Portobello, and they were the 2016 Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards’ supreme champions.
Now she is the judging coordinator for the Otago regional awards for her third season.
‘‘It’s a great thing to be a part of because it’s amazing to see what the farmers are doing,’’ Mrs Cross said.
She would like to see as many entrants as possible, although in the past few years there have usually been about eight.
‘‘One of the biggest challenges is getting people to enter, but I don’t have a problem getting judges.
‘‘I am trying to get 24 for the Otago region.’’
She usually utilises the experience of sponsors’ representatives, previous winners and consultants.
Teams of four visit all the entrants’ properties for the first round, each team visiting two farms.
Once the finalists are selected, fresh teams will judge them.
‘‘We are having a training day for judges at Invermay [in Mosgiel] on November 1.
‘‘I facilitate on the day, and have a PowerPoint Presentation about what they should look for, what notes to take, how to conduct themselves and to ask open questions.’’
She said each on-farm judging took about three hours.
The judges looked at the operation, production, stock and stock health, the business side, what they are doing for water quality, planting, biodiversity and other environmental facets, and their social and community involvement.
‘‘It is more about them having the opportunity to tell their story and to profile their good practices.
‘‘The awards are a celebration of strong farming practices and of people doing wonderful things with production and innovation and the environment.’’
In addition to networking with other entrants, sponsors and others involved in the awards, entrants received feedback from the judges, which highlighted strengths and made recommendations.
The first round of judging is in November and the finalists’ round is in January.
The awards run in 11 regions throughout the country, with regional winners competing in the National Sustainability Showcase in Wellington on June 4 next year.
The Otago awards evening is in Dunedin on April 2 and the Southland awards are in Invercargill the following day.
You can enter online or contact Otago regional coordinator Camille McAtamney on 027 418-3414 or otago@bfea.org.nz, or Southland regional co-ordinator Tracie Donelley on 027 291-0702, southland@bfea.org.nz.
★ This year’s Otago winners, Andrew and Lynnore Templeton, of The Rocks Station, Middlemarch, will be hosting an open day on November 8 from 12pm.
