MEDIA RELEASE
DIVERSE ENTRIES FOR SOUTH ISLAND FARMER OF THE YEAR 2015
Entries across the spectrum of New Zealand’s agriculture industry have been received for
the 2015 Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year award.
In addition to several strong entries from ‘traditional’ sheep and beef farms, entrants this
year include a: Marlborough marine mussel farm, Canterbury saffron grower, South
Canterbury organic dairy, Central Otago gourmet fruits producer, and an organic red meats
farm in Southland. For the first time in the history of the competition, a West Coast farm
has also been entered.
In total, 12 entries have been received from throughout the South Island. Lincoln University
Foundation Chairman Ben Todhunter says he is delighted to see strong entries for the third
year in a row.
“Early in the life of this competition it was a challenge to get entries. But as the prestige of
the competition has grown and word has spread about its value to entrants and the
agricultural industry generally, numbers have built up. We deliberately aim for quality of
entrants rather than quantity, so our criteria for farming excellence set a high bar. Our
focus will be to maintain this level of very high standard entries and further enhance the
reputation of the competition as one of New Zealand’s premiere farming awards.”
Todhunter says the first stage of evaluation will commence soon, with regional judging
teams visiting each farm. Finalists will be announced in mid-October, with the finals
themselves to be held at Lincoln University on Wednesday 18 November. All entrants get a
free expert evaluation of their farm business as a part of the judging process. A field day at
the property of the overall winner will be held within the first quarter of 2016.
The winner receives a $20,000 study/travel grant to further their farm business knowledge.
Finalists can also win one of four $5000 special category prizes:
The Silver Fern Farms red meat producer ‘Plate to Pasture’ award for best consumer
awareness;
The Farmlands award for best resource management;
The AGSTAFF award for human resource management; and
The Lincoln University award for innovation and technology.
“The Lincoln University Foundation was formed to encourage excellence in farm business
practice,” Todhunter says. “This annual competition is a great vehicle for that. It rewards
farming leadership and innovation, and uses the finals night and winner’s field day, plus
on-line presentations, to make that knowledge available to the wider farming community.”
Details of the entrants are:

Ashley and Shonelle Townsend, Balclutha, Otago – Located near the East Otago
coast on land ranging from 30m to 200m above sea level, this farm business is
primarily a sheep farm with some beef cattle.

Clearwater Mussels (John Young et el), Marlborough Sounds – greenshell mussel
producer with 90 mussel farms ranging from 2.5 to 80 hectares processing for a
variety of food and pharmaceutical markets.

Clearwater’s Organic Dairy Company (Bryan and Jackie Clearwater), Peel Forest,
South Canterbury – A self contained organic dairy with on-farm processing of milk
to yoghurt with nationwide distribution.

Coleridge Downs Ltd (Tony and Pam Plunkett), Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury – high
quality red meats (beef, sheep, deer) across four properties ranging from hard hill
country to intensively farmed flats.

Kilbrannan Farm (Paul and Tracey Ruddenklau), Te Anau, Southland – Organic
‘Biogro’ sheep and beef farm on flat to rolling country near the base of the Takitimu
Ranges.

Limestone Hills (Dan and Bridget Studholme), Waimate District, South Canterbury
– a two-property enterprise comprising hill, rolling and flat country with sheep, beef
cattle and dairy heifers.

Lindis Crossing Station (Adam and Annabel Spiers), Wanaka, Central Otago – a
farm business comprising four properties, including one near Ashburton in
Canterbury, finishing lamb, venison, prime beef and bull beef.

New Zealand Gourmet (Matthew Tyrrell), Roxburgh, Central Otago – Gourmet
summer fruit producer focusing on cherry and blueberry export markets in Asia, the
Middle East and Australia.

Raft Creek Farm (Stephen Wright), Hokitika, Westland – A Landcorp farm, Raft
Creek is predominantly a deer breeding (genetics) enterprise supplying breeding
stags to other West Coast deer properties, but with surplus deer finished on the
property for venison. Beef cattle and lambs are also finished depending on the
seasonal circumstances.

Richard and Annabelle Subtil, Omarama, North Otago – primarily a sheep and beef
property with some smaller scale hydro and tourism operations with scientific
reserves and DOC and QE2 covenants on the property.

Saffron Valley (Cheryl Rault and Ray Hughes), Greta Valley, North Canterbury –
Certified organic saffron producer and exporter.

Shortlands Station (David Crutchley) Ranfurly, Central Otago – A farm business
comprising two properties with a total of 21,838ha producing primarily sheep meat
but also beef and some forestry.
ENDS
Media inquiries (including for entrant contact details and photographs) to:
Steve Attwood
P: 03 943-0580
C: 027 4191080
E: steve@conv.co.nz