fbpx
Print this page
Saturday, 30 December 2023 13:12

Cows, cocktails, comradeship, and charity

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
A Short History is the story of the Waikato Farmers Trust. A Short History is the story of the Waikato Farmers Trust.

The story of one of the Waikato’s least known philanthropic entities has been published for the first time.

A Short History is the story of the Waikato Farmers Trust, a charitable organisation which provides support to individuals and community initiatives throughout rural Waikato.

The Trust, which has origins dating back almost eight decades, emerged out of the Waikato Federated Farmers and is a generous contributor to rural initiatives, including the Life Education Trust, Graham Dingle Foundation, Rural Youth & Literacy Trust, House of Science, and several rural industry and environmental awards programmes. 

Paeroa dairy farmer and chair of the Waikato Farmers Trust, Conall Buchanan says documenting the story of the Trust and its visionary leadership over the years is valuable.

“The Tower at 169 London Street is a recognisable landmark of Hamilton’s urban infrastructure, but it’s also our anchor asset and has enabled us to provide financial support for rural communities, education initiatives, and leadership development.”

Extensive interviews, archival research, and invaluable support from the Hamilton City Libraries has brought to the fore stories filled with colour, characters, cocktails, and cows.

“It’s a story of foresight, tenacity and sheer hard effort over the years by many individuals and communities,” says Buchanan.

“The history of the Trust and how it came to be, wasn’t well known, even among our farming community. We’ve recorded the Trust’s establishment, the challenges it has faced, the contributions of so many, and the ongoing charitable outreach we are committed to providing.”

The 52-page publication showcases the changing landscape of Hamilton city, describes the impact of policy, procedural and political change, and reinforces the role both Waikato Federated Farmers and the Waikato Farmers Trust have played – and continue to play – for the benefit of Waikato’s rural community.

“The Trust has ambitious plans to continue to support rural Waikato and we’re in a strong place to do so,” says Buchanan. “Understanding our past helps us to chart our future. We owe much of what we’ve been able to achieve to those who had the foresight to establish this Trust so many years ago. This history ensures their efforts are acknowledged.”

Copies of the publication are available for purchase via the Waikato Farmers Trust: www.waikatofarmerstrust.org.nz/history.

Complimentary copies have been sent to all Waikato Federated Farmers members.

More like this

Can't be green, if you're in the red

Don’t expect farmers to spend money on riparian planting and fencing if their businesses are running in deficit, says Waikato Federated Farmers president Keith Holmes.

Featured

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards, providing the opportunity to honour both rising talent and industry stalwarts.

B+LNZ launches AI assistant for farmers

Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.

National

Machinery & Products

Tech might take time

Agritech Unleashed – a one-day event held recently at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton – focused on technology as an ‘enabler’…

John Deere acquires GUSS Automation

John Deere has announced the full acquisition of GUSS Automation, LLC, a globally recognised leader in supervised high-value crop autonomy,…

Fencing excellence celebrated

The Fencing Contractors Association of New Zealand (FCANZ) celebrated the best of the best at the 2025 Fencing Industry Awards,…