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Kate Acland and husband David at the Primary Industries Summit in Auckland.
Women up and down the country are the glue that hold rural communities together, giving so much to so many, says the inaugural Rural Woman of the year award winner Kate Acland.
Acland, who chairs Beef + Lamb NZ and NZ Meat Board, told Rural News that she was delighted and incredibly humbled to receive the award at the Primary Industries NZ Awards on Tuesday night.
She thanked Federated Farmers and Rural Woman NZ for starting an award, to shine a light on the important role rural women play.
“The awards night was such a fantastic celebration across the primary sector. I’d also really like to acknowledge the other finalists Sandra Faulkner and Sarah Donaldson two wonderful women who are equally deserving of this accolade.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last few years with Beef + Lamb NZ, we’ve achieved a lot but have so much more to do as we look to take our sector forward.
“I’m committed to continuing to work to grow the productivity and profitability in our farming businesses and make sure we’re attracting the best and brightest talent and young people into the sector,” Acland says.
Kate Acland and her husband David, farm the 3,800-hectare Mount Somers Station. The station runs sheep, beef and dairy, but the family have diversified with honey and lambswool blanket
Judges said Acland had shown "inspirational leadership" in changing both the culture and effectiveness of Beef + Lamb.
"Under Kate's leadership, we have seen a significant change in the sentiment of Beef + Lamb’s levy-payers.
"Someone needed to do it and Kate felt that she had the strength to take on the challenge and reset the organisation,” the judges said.
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