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Stacey Belton.
AgFirst dairy consultant Stacey Belton, Hamilton, has been named the Farmax Emerging Rural Professional of the Year. She beat four other contestants.
Belton was one of three category winners announced at the Rural Professional of the Year Awards last week.
The judges were impressed with the calibre of the five candidates and said there was little separating them.
They noted that Belton had extensive knowledge of farm management systems and the self-awareness to understand what areas she needed to develop further to more effectively service her clients.
She plans to spend the prize money on doing a project on how to attract more young people into the consulting profession.
Belton graduated bachelor of agricultural science (hons) with honours at Lincoln, before joining AgFirst in its Northland office three-and-a-half years ago. She has been based at the Waikato office for 18 months.
“I love my job and put a lot of effort into it; it is a great feeling to be recognised as contributing to the industry.”
Commenting on the calibre of the five woman contestants, the chief executive of the NZ Institute of Primary Industry Management, Stephen Macaulay,said the judges “had a tough job in selecting this year’s award winner, as each candidate was clearly knowledgeable and highly regarded by their peers in their chosen field.”
The finalists also reflected the changing face of the rural profession, he said.
“It’s great to see more women entering the rural profession. All the candidates clearly see opportunities in the rural profession.”
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