Langford eyes top job

Langford took over the presidency on an interim basis last week after the shock resignation of Andrew Hoggard, who was announced the next day as ACT Party candidate for Rangitikei for the upcoming general election.

"Yes, I will be putting my hand up," Langford told Dairy News.

"I'm looking forward to working hard for farmers and continuing to foster the relationships already built to best advocate for what rural communities need."

Langford was appointed vice president last year and previously served as Feds dairy section chair. He is also founder and general manager of Meat the Need, a charity providing meat and milk to needy families.

The new Federated Farmers president will be elected at its annual meeting in Wellington. Hoggard was to step down at the meeting after serving his three-year term as president.

However, media speculation about his ACT Party candidacy forced him to quit two months earlier.

Langford says after 18 years of servie to Federated Farmers, it was unfortunate that Hoggard couldn't see out the last two months of his term.

"We work in a political space and if there is a conflict of interest such as this, then there is only really one option for Andrew to step down," he says.

"Andrew has been around all my time in Feds.

"He loves the political world and works very hard, spending large amounts of time reading over policy. It's not uncommon to get a 3am email from Andrew when he's been up at the computer before going to milk in the morning."

Former Feds dairy chair Chris Lewis described Hoggard as an outstanding leader during his tenure.

"Someone who could walk the walk on the farm and talk the talk in Wellington: very good on policy, feds administration and straight talking to politicians and media," Lewis told Dairy News.

"He was good at chairing meetings and listening to views.

"Wish him well and will be watching election night results with more interest with a number of farmers I know putting their names forward to be a MP."

Hoggard joined Federated Farmers 18 years ago as the young farmers' rep to the Manawatu provincial executive.

"I've really enjoyed my time with Feds, and it's opened so many opportunities for me to do things and go places that I'd never have been able to if I'd just stayed on the farm instead of taking on roles with Feds," Hoggard says.

"That said I've always prided myself on being a 'hands on farmer' the whole way through this ride.

"I know from talking to many of you that you appreciated the fact that I have 'kept it real' as the saying goes - with video messages delivered whilst getting cows in, feeding calves, and even calving cows."

Hoggard says there were challenges too.

"I won't deny that I'm looking forward to being able to have an actual weekend off - after I take care of a few jobs I've been putting off on the farm."