Monday, 08 July 2024 09:43

Ruralco Instore Days attracts special guest

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon meets with local Mid Canterbury farmer, Jason Keeley at Ruralco’s 30th anniversary Instore Days in Ashburton. From left, Ruralco’s On-Farm Sales Manager, Lester Chambers; Mike Cox from Nufarm; Jason Keeley, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Ruralco CEO, Tony Aitken. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon meets with local Mid Canterbury farmer, Jason Keeley at Ruralco’s 30th anniversary Instore Days in Ashburton. From left, Ruralco’s On-Farm Sales Manager, Lester Chambers; Mike Cox from Nufarm; Jason Keeley, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, and Ruralco CEO, Tony Aitken.

Over 2000 people, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, attended Ruralco’s Instore days last week.

Ruralco chief executive Tony Aitken, says this year’s 30th anniversary Instore Days, held over two days, provided the perfect platform for farmers to meet with the PM and local Rangitata MP James Meager and hear first-hand from them.

“Ruralco is here for the local community. Our focus is to make farming easier, and we are proud to be a conduit to facilitate opportunities such as the Prime Minister’s visit where our farmers, merchants and local businesses have the chance to speak directly to their Prime Minister,” says Aitken.

“We work hard to create touchpoints with our farmers, and our Instore Days is a particularly important part of that process. To have the Prime Minister in attendance has been a wonderful addition to what was already a significant milestone for our Mid Canterbury based co-operative as we celebrate our 30th Instore Days anniversary.”

A Ruralco statement says local farmers and businesses who spoke with Luxon were impressed with his genuine interest and understanding of the issues facing the primary sector, his knowledge of the region and his personal connections to the area – one of his grandfathers worked at Coldstream Estate, while the other was the principal of Willowby School; his father attended Lowcliffe Primary School; and his wife’s first teaching position was at Tinwald Primary School.

Aitken says the PM’s visit was a wonderful opportunity to highlight how significant Ruralco is to the Mid Canterbury region, and this was evident by the number of people who turned out to connect with Luxon.

Instore Days is always a popular event for local farmers to come to town and to meet and mingle with each other, local businesses, and Ruralco staff to hear first-hand about new technologies, innovations and to access some great deals.

“Ruralco and its local farming community has achieved a lot together over the last 60 years. Today’s visit has definitely been a highlight. We were established in Mid Canterbury in 1963 to support local farmers and that remains our focus as we look to the future,” says Aitken.

More like this

Gene technology ban set to end

Legislation to end a 30-year ban on gene technology outside the lab will be in place by the end of 2025, the Government has announced.

Featured

Applications for HortNZ scholarships now open

Applications are open for Horticulture New Zealand’s (HortNZ) 2025 scholarship programme with18 funding opportunities for students with a special interest in the commercial fruit and vegetable industry.

Waiting and hoping

A lot depends on what happens in the next few months. That's the view of Federated Farmers Otago president, Luke Kane.

Start of a turnaround?

In another sign of improving agribusiness sentiment, two listed companies have lifted their forecast earnings for the year.

'Mood change' among Synlait farmers

Canterbury milk processor Synlait says some farmer suppliers have been inquiring about the process to remove their cessation notices, handed in earlier this year.

National

Synlait CEO departs

The first change in Synlait’s management team, since China’s Bright Dairy securing 65% ownership, has been announced.

Machinery & Products

New F5 balers from McHale

Irish grassland machinery manufacturer McHale has unveiled the new four-model range of F5 fixed chamber balers.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

So very '90s!

OPINION: In a to the 1990s, our old mates at Greenpeace continued their crusade against affordable food by abseiling down…

Lock the gate

OPINION: Big surprise, Fish & Game find themselves at odds with farmers, once again, and at risk of costing their…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter