Zanda McDonald Award finalists unveiled
The Zanda McDonald Award has announced its six finalists for the 2024 accolade.
An entrepreneurial approach to primary production has resulted in Rhys Roberts of mid-Canterbury receiving the 2022 New Zealand Zanda McDonald Award.
Roberts is chief executive of the Align Group, who operate seven farms, a market garden and are vertically integrated with a yoghurt brand and milk processing facility.
Now in its eighth year, the Zanda McDonald Award supports talented and passionate young professionals in the ag sector from Australia and New Zealand.
Roberts will receive a trans-Tasman package centred around mentoring, education and training that is tailored to his needs.
“Rhys is highly ambitious, and he’s prepared to break the mould of the past and do things differently. Some of the results he’s seeing, due to his innovative approach, are nothing short of exceptional,” says Zanda McDonald Award patron Shane McManaway.
“He has a strong environmental and wellbeing focus, as well as creating a significant difference to the company’s bottom line. As judges we were extremely impressed and inspired by his leadership, and know he has a very strong future ahead of him.”
Roberts says he is thrilled to receive the award.
“It’s such a privilege, and I’m really grateful for the opportunity. A definite highlight for me will be the trans-Tasman mentoring trip, where I’ll get to spend time with top ag leaders in New Zealand and Australia, as well as previous award winners and finalists. The learnings I’ll get from that experience will be absolutely life-changing,” he says.
The award interviews and presentation were originally going to be held in Martinborough, but this changed to an online format as a result of the change to red on the traffic light system.
Once Covid restrictions ease, Roberts along with the three other finalists will get together for media training and to spend some time with leaders in the sector.
As the 2022 winner, Roberts will receive a professional development package that includes an all-expenses paid trans-Tasman mentoring trip to high performing farms and businesses in Australia and New Zealand, $10,000 towards further education along with a series of networking opportunities.
An independent report, prepared for Alliance farmer shareholders is backing the proposed $250 million joint venture investment by Irish company Dawn Meats Group.
Whangarei field service technician, Bryce Dickson has cemented his place in John Deere’s history, becoming the first ever person to win an award for the third time at the annual Australian and New Zealand Technician of the Year Awards, announced at a gala dinner in Brisbane last night.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.