What Entrants Say About BFEA

Paul and Joanna McCarthy, 2009 Supreme Winners Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards Having picked up the Supreme title in the 2009 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards, Paul and Joanna McCarthy could be forgiven for taking time out to savour their win. But the opposite has happened. Paul describes the win and the leadership role that comes with it as “the most rewarding experience in my farming career”. The McCarthy’s are now encouraging other farmers to enter the 2011 competition. Paul, who is now an assessor, says one of the key messages he wants to get across to potential entrants is that their farm doesn’t have to be in pristine condition to win an award. Don’t let a bit of junk behind the shed stop you entering the awards.” He is also keen to stress that the competition is about “more than planting a couple of trees”. During the judging process, which is conducted in a friendly and relaxed manner, entrants will be asked to explain the vision behind the work they are doing and talk about how they plan to achieve their goals. Paul says other factors, such as community involvement, are also taken into account. “There are many reasons people should enter and they should definitely give it a go.”
Dave and Sandy MacGillivray, 2009 Entrants Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards Southland sheep and deer farmer Dave MacGillivray doesn’t consider himself a “tree hugger”, but that didn’t stop him making the finals of the 2009 Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards. “I was a bit reluctant to enter,” says Dave who was one of just six BFEA finalists in the Southland region this year. “But I do believe in looking after what you have and where possible enhancing it. I have found these awards are more about sustainability, I have really enjoyed looking at it from that angle and have learnt a lot.” Attending a BFEA field day on the property of the 2006 Southland supreme winners Graeme and Dorothy Dodd was a watershed moment for Dave. “That gave me the inspiration when I saw what could be achieved. I made contacts that day, it showed me how to go about doing things and that it’s never too late.”
*Keith and Wendy Holdom, 2009 entrants, Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Entering the competition was “surprisingly simple” and Keith Holdom describes the judging process as an enjoyable and informative process. “We just talked about why we did what we did. There was no right or wrong answer. “I enjoy talking to people and one of the best things about this competition is that you get to meet a range of people from different walks of life and with different areas of expertise. It was a great way to build up contacts.” The judges also offered useful feedback and advice, and Keith says he came out of the process feeling better informed about sustainability issues. His advice to anyone considering entering the 2010 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards is to have a try. “I’d happily recommend it. Even if you don’t think you are doing anything particularly special, just put it out there and have a go. There are lots of different award categories and you might be surprised at what you get picked out for.”
Bruce and Lyn Nell, 2008 entrants, Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards Lyn Nell says she and Bruce learnt a lot from their involvement in the competition. “It was very professionally run and it was a great experience to be judged by our farming peers. There seems to be a real family atmosphere among the people involved in the competition in this region and we really enjoyed the support we received.” She also found out that the competition is not just about planting trees. “The judges take a holistic view of the whole operation and they also take factors like community involvement into account. Participating in the competition enabled us to compare our operation to others, find out where we stood, and find out how we could improve.”

*Ian and Kathy Cummings, 2008 Supreme Winners, Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards* After winning the Supreme title Ian Cummings went on to represent his region as an ambassador for environmental sustainability. He was also a judge for the 2009 Horizons awards – an experience he thoroughly enjoyed. “It was great to get out there and meet new people and have a look at a lot of different farms. As a judge you get to see people doing a range of different things to improve sustainability. I’ve even been able to pick up ideas to use on my own farm.” Improving sustainability is a long-term process and Ian says the farms entered in the 2010 competition will all be at different stages of the process. “It doesn’t really matter if an entrant has just started a project. The important thing is that they can explain how they are doing it and what they hope to achieve.” “I’d strongly recommend the competition to anyone who is considering entering. They should definitely give it a go.”
Daniel and Jo Houston, 2009 entrants, Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards Daniel Houston was encouraged to enter the 2009 Greater Wellington/Wairarapa BFEA competition by a Land Management Officer from the Wellington Regional Council. He’d already heard a lot about the competition and decided entering it would be an interesting and worthwhile experience. Daniel Houston was encouraged to enter the 2009 Greater Wellington/Wairarapa BFEA competition by a Land Management Officer from the Wellington Regional Council. He’d already heard a lot about the competition and decided entering it would be an interesting and worthwhile experience. BFEA judges were clearly impressed, awarding the farm the Silver Fern Farms Livestock Farm award. They described Eringa as a very tidy operation, with good attention to detail, an outstanding regrassing programme and impressive erosion control plantings. “We weren’t really expecting to win anything. Entering the competition just seemed like a good way to learn more so that we could improve the operation in future. And it certainly did provide a good learning curve. The judges were really good value in terms of the information they provided and their feedback was very positive. They also came up with some good suggestions for ways in which the farm could be further improved.” Daniel says he would certainly recommend the experience to other farmers. “Being involved in a competition like this keeps you on your toes and teaches you to take a good hard look at what is happening in the environment around you.”
*Mike and Cathy Crum, 2009 entrants, Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Glenn says he entered the Ballance Farm Environment Awards to get recognitioMike Crum says he saw entering the competition as a way to highlight some of the organic principles they were using and “put forward some ideas” that might be useful to other growers. Mike says the judging process was enjoyable and more of a discussion than an inquisition. “We had a few laughs with the judges but they asked some challenging questions about what we were doing and why we were doing it. They also offered some good advice on things we could try in future.” He says the Ballance Farm Environment Awards help “get the message out there” that orchardists are serious about environmental sustainability. “It’s a great competition.”

*Mike and Angela Chaffey, 2009 entrants, Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Canterbury farmer Mike Chaffey admits he felt a little nervous as he waited for the Ballance Farm Environment Award judges to visit his farm last year. But he and wife Angela needn’t have worried. “They put us at ease straight away,” says Mike. “They asked a lot of questions about what we were doing and why we were doing it, but it was all very informal. It was just like sitting around the table with a few mates having a yak about the farm.” In fact, Mike says he probably learnt as much from the judges as they learnt from him. “We were a bit hesitant about entering the competition but I’m really glad we did because we got to meet a lot of different people and we picked up some very useful information on how we can improve our farm in future.” Mike says one of the key advantages of entering the Ballance Farm Environment Awards was that he got to talk to farmers and scientists who had considerable expertise in irrigation and water management. He says entering the competition was well worthwhile and he would certainly encourage other farmers to give it a go. “You’ve got absolutely nothing to lose.”
*George and Peggy Morrison, 2009 Entrants, Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards* It might have taken some arm-twisting to get George and Peggy Morrison into the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, but the Northland couple are glad they gave it a go. “We actually enjoyed the judging process and the judges’ feedback was very positive. They also came up with some good suggestions on the type of native species we should plant on the farm.” The judges have a wealth of knowledge from their own experiences, and you can gain plenty of ideas from them.” On a broader level, she says the Ballance Farm Environment Awards are also a good way for farmers to show urban people some of the positive things that are happening on the farm. “The awards are a great concept. A lot of work goes into organising this competition and I think it’s important that farmers support it.”
*Allan Roulston, 2009 Entrant, Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards* After winning a merit award in 2004 Allan’s desire to improve the farm helped him secure two category awards in 2009 – the Hill Laboratories Harvest Award and the NZ Farm Environment Award Trust Habitat Improvement Award. Allan regards participation in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards as a valuable learning experience and he’s happy to encourage other farmers to enter the competition. “It’s very worthwhile.” He says he enjoyed the feedback provided by the judging process. “One of the good things is that you get to ask questions of the judges. Its amazing how many things you can pick up.” He says the Ballance Farm Environment Awards have excellent credibility and are great for the agricultural sector. “The farming industry has a lot of awards, but this one is the most valuable because it focuses on sustainable farming and emphasises how important it is to look after land and stock.” Allan says he will certainly enter the awards again in future. “I’ve got some things I want to work on and once I’ve got them right, I will definitely be going back in.”
*Miller Family, 2009 Entrants, Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Jason Miller admits the family was a little hesitant when asked to enter the Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards last year. “Our view was that there is still a lot of work to be done here, but then we started to realise that the awards are not about your farm being in a picture perfect state. They are more about the vision you are working towards.” He says the awards’ judging process was conducted in a very supportive manner. “It gave us a good opportunity to re-evaluate what we are doing and make some changes. The judges have obviously seen a range of different farms and they had a lot to offer in terms of ideas. For example, our planting programme was perhaps a little ad hoc at the start, but now we are taking a more planned approach and using free advice from Environment Southland to help us with this.”
Peter and Marilyn Kidd, 2008 Entrants, Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards Competing in the 2008 Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards helped reassure Peter and Marilyn Kidd they were on the right track as far as environmental sustainability goes. “We wanted to see where we were at in the eyes of the judges and see if we were on the right track,” says Peter. Effluent management is a major issue for dairy farmers and the industry has been much maligned for its performance in this area. Peter says he believes this is one reason dairy farmers may have been reluctant to enter the Ballance Farm Environment Awards in the past. “They don’t want to stick their heads up because they are worried they might get them knocked off.” “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Many dairy farmers have a good story to tell and the industry needs good news.” He says the biggest benefit of entering the Awards is the knowledge gained through the judging process. It challenges farmers to take a good hard look at their operations. “You learn a lot and get some great ideas out of it.” “This competition is important because it helps capture hearts and minds in terms of what a good farmer should do.”
*Paul and Joanna McCarthy, 2009 Supreme Winners, Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Having picked up the Supreme title in the 2009 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards, Paul and Joanna McCarthy could be forgiven for taking time out to savour their win. But the opposite has happened. Paul describes the win and the leadership role that comes with it as “the most rewarding experience in my farming career”. The McCarthy’s are now encouraging other farmers to enter the 2010 competition. Paul, who is now an assessor, says one of the key messages he wants to get across to potential entrants is that their farm doesn’t have to be in pristine condition to win an award. “Don’t let a bit of junk behind the shed stop you entering the awards.” He is also keen to stress that the competition is about “more than planting a couple of trees”. During the judging process, which is conducted in a friendly and relaxed manner, entrants will be asked to explain the vision behind the work they are doing and talk about how they plan to achieve their goals. Paul says other factors, such as community involvement, are also taken into account. “There are many reasons people should enter and they should definitely give it a go.”
*Dave and Sandy MacGillivray, 2009 Entrants, Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Southland sheep and deer farmer Dave MacGillivray doesn’t consider himself a “tree hugger”, but that didn’t stop him making the finals of the 2009 Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards. “I was a bit reluctant to enter,” says Dave who was one of just six BFEA finalists in the Southland region this year. “But I do believe in looking after what you have and where possible enhancing it. I have found these awards are more about sustainability, I have really enjoyed looking at it from that angle and have learnt a lot.” Attending a BFEA field day on the property of the 2006 Southland supreme winners Graeme and Dorothy Dodd was a watershed moment for Dave. “That gave me the inspiration when I saw what could be achieved. I made contacts that day, it showed me how to go about doing things and that it’s never too late.”
*Bryan Tucker, 2003 Entrant, Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Stephen Glowing feedback from Ballance Farm Environment Award judges six years ago encouraged Bryan Tucker to continue a shelterbelt planting programme that provides major benefits for his Morrisons Bush dairy and pig farm. In 2002, during the early stages of the planting process, Bryan was encouraged to enter the 2003 Greater Wellington/Wairarapa Farm Environment Awards. Much to his surprise, he was named winner of the LIC Dairy Farm Award. “It was very pleasing to win. I enjoyed the judging process and the judges made some very positive comments about how well we were doing.” Bryan says the Ballance Farm Environment Awards are an excellent source of information for dairy farmers. “You learn a lot from the judges and from attending field days on the Supreme-winning farms.” He says the awards are also good for the dairy industry in general because they show that dairy farmers are working hard on environmental management. “I think all dairy farmers should support the awards and I’d definitely encourage other farmers to enter.”
Terry and Sue Magill, 2009 Entrants, Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards The winning of two category awards in the 2009 Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards was an unexpected but welcome acknowledgement of Terry and Sue Magill’s relatively short farming career. The winning of two category awards in the 2009 Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards was an unexpected but welcome acknowledgement of Terry and Sue Magill’s relatively short farming career. Terry says a friend had nominated them for the awards and while they were a bit hesitant at first, they found it a rewarding and enjoyable experience that made them take a good hard look at their business. “I sat down beforehand and thoroughly scrutinised our operating costs, which is something I hadn’t done to that degree before.” As well as providing a useful critique of the operation, he says the judging process also challenged them to think about their responsibilities to staff and the wider community. Terry says the two awards he and Sue won were a welcome and credible recognition of the work they and their farm manager have done. The couple now get frequent requests from Fonterra and other organisations to host overseas visitors on the farm. “We are always happy to do that”. He says the Ballance Farm Environment Awards are great for the dairy industry and he would urge any farmer to enter the competition.

*Norman and Helen McLeish, 2008 entrants, Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Entering the 2008 Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards helped Drummond farmer Norman McLeish gain recognition for the efforts of his father and grandfather. Norman says much of the wetland work was performed by his father and grandfather who shared a passion for duckponds and tree planting. He saw entering the awards as a way to gain some recognition for this work and pick up information. He says the judging process proved very enjoyable. “The judges weren’t there to pick holes in things. They just asked about what I was doing and why I was doing it and that discussion made me think hard about ways I could maybe do things better in future.” Norman says he and Helen were very pleased to win the Habitat Improvement Award and they are glad they entered the competition. “I’d certainly encourage other farmers to give it a go. It’s got to be worthwhile whether you win anything or not."
*Matt and Lynley Wyeth, 2004 entrants, Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Matt and Lynley Wyeth entered the Ballance Farm Environment Awards “basically because we wanted to tap the brains of the judges”. They are constantly seeking information from numerous sources, including farm discussion groups and various agribusiness professionals. Participating in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards gave them access to a wide range of expertise “for free” and Matt says it was a thoroughly worthwhile experience. He and Lynley have maintained contact with many of the people they met through their involvement in the awards and Matt says he enjoyed being a judge for a couple of years after their win. “It was great to get out there with like-minded people and travel around looking at other farms.” He believes many farmers would benefit from entering the awards. “The judging process is very relaxed and it’s a great way to get good advice. You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

*Simon and Mark Wilson, 2006 entrants, Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards* "The Farm Environment Awards definitely increased our awareness of environmental issues, but it also reassured us we were on the right track with a lot of the things we were doing. ”Simon says the opportunity to mingle with other enthusiastic and like-minded farmers during the awards evening was another highlight for him. “It really was a very positive experience and my advice to anyone considering entering the competition would be to go for it. You won’t regret it.”
*Philip Wilson, 2008 entrant, Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Otago dairy farmer Philip Wilson and his family had a point to prove when they entered this year’s Ballance Farm Environment Awards. “Dairy farmers get a lot of bad press when it comes to environmental issues, so we wanted to do something positive for the industry,” he says. Philip would certainly encourage other farmers to enter the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. “This competition is getting more and more recognition each year and I think it is important that dairy farmers support it,” he says. “I’m associated with three dairy farms and I’d certainly consider entering again because it is a very positive thing for farmers and their staff.”
*Glenn Roberts, 2008 entrant, Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Glenn says he entered the Ballance Farm Environment Awards to get recognition for kiwifruit growers and to encourage others to support the annual competition. He says it is important for the industry to show it is serious about promoting environmental sustainability. He also enjoyed getting personal recognition for his efforts and those of his employers. The judging process provided the opportunity to benchmark the economic and environmental performance of Riverside Orchard against other operations. “Its good to compare yourself with others,” says Glenn. “The judges also presented some very useful suggestions and gave good advice on the use of shelter plantings.”

*Butson Family, 2008 entrants, Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards* We are well aware of the fact that we are a High Country Station in an area of significant interest, but our involvement in the competition really brought home the importance of recording and monitoring what we are doing.” The judges also provided confirmation the Butsons were doing their best to preserve the environment while ensuring the business remained profitable. Kate says attending the Supreme winners field day and mixing with other entrants at the awards evening was another high point “because it showed us there were a lot of other people out there trying to do the same things we are”. She says the family aims to implement some of the ideas thrown up by the judges and other entrants “and we would certainly like to re-enter the competition again in future”.
*Ian Easton, 2005 entrant, Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Ian says being involved with a competition like the Ballance Farm Environment Awards proved invaluable for this “because it forces you to take a good look at the way you operate”. He remains a keen supporter of the Awards and plans to encourage his son to enter in future. “It’s a great concept and I’d certainly like to see more people entering. It should almost be compulsory because the judging process opens up your eyes to ways you could do things better.”

Stuart and Alison Paton, 2005, 2006 and 2007 entrants, Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards “The reason we entered the Ballance Farm Environment Awards was because it gave us the opportunity to learn new things. We are really pleased we did because we learnt so much from the judges.” Stuart and Alison want to see how the recent changes on the farm work out, then they plan to enter the competition again some time in the future to chase the Supreme award. “If you’re entered you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
*Murray and Sue Johns, 2008 entrants, Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards* “When you have been farming for a while you start to form a real attachment to the land and a great desire to look after it for future generations.” Sue says she and Murray were very impressed by the professionalism and friendliness of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards team. This made entering the competition an experience she would recommend to any farmer. “They were wonderful people to work with and I’d certainly encourage people to support the competition because it has very worthy goals.”
Jo and the late Trevor Lucas, 2005 entrants, Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards “Some people shy away from entering the awards because they feel they might get criticised, but the judging process is not about that at all. It’s all about highlighting the positive things farmers have done and offering them ideas about how they might improve in future.” As a former competitor, Jo says she and her late husband, Trevor got a lot out of the judging process. “It was great to be able to talk to the judges about where we were at (in terms of sustainability). We were also able to draw on the expertise of individual judges. For example, one of the judges was a forestry expert and he was able to give us some really good advice on which species of tree would suit a certain area.” Jo’s advice to anyone considering entering the 2009 competition is to give it a go. At the very least it will prove a good learning experience.
*Richard and Annabelle Subtil, 2007 entrants, Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Richard says they were encouraged to enter the Ballance Farm Environment Awards by their fertiliser representatives and decided to give it a go. “We were curious to see how we compared with others and see what the judges would think of what we do.” He says the judges asked questions that made them think hard about their operation. “I enjoyed that because it really stimulates the thought processes.” The outside perspective provided by the judges was enlightening and Richard says he’d recommend the experience of participating in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards to any farmer. Richard says another benefit of being involved with the awards was the opportunity to mingle with other contestants at the awards evening. From this he has developed a network of friends he can contact to discuss ideas or seek advice.
*Earl and Vicki Dillon, 2008 entrants, Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards* As farmers we are constantly assessing things and trying to be more environmentally aware. But it’s nice to know that we are on the right track with what we are doing.” Earl says the judging process was relatively relaxed and enjoyable. “The judges had a format, but it was basically just a chat around the kitchen table.” He would recommend the experience to any farmer. “We are constantly reading negative commentary about farming in the media, so it was really good to be involved with something positive. “This competition shows that farmers do know what they are doing and they do care about the environment.”
*Stephen and Samantha Wade, Lynwood Orchards, 2007 entrants, Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Stephen says the judging process proved an enjoyable and educational experience, providing a valuable outside perspective on the business. “We had seven judges here during two judging phases. They all had different areas of expertise and their questions made us think hard about what we are doing.” He says the judging panel offered constructive feedback and useful suggestions for the future. While winning the Harvest Award was a pleasant surprise for the Wades, “even if we hadn’t won anything, the experience was still well worth it for all of the free advice we got out of it”. Stephen says the publicity generated by the win and the credibility that comes with winning such a respected award has certainly helped the orchard with its marketing of nursery tree stock. His advice to other orchardists considering entering the 2009 Ballance Farm Environment Awards is simple. “Go for it.” As for handling the judging process; “You don’t need to worry, they are all very friendly. But giving them scones probably helps”.
*“Andre Lategan, 2008 entrant, Otago Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Andre says he entered the Awards because he wanted to find out whether he was on the right track as far as best farming practices go. “And because there is always something new to learn.” Excellent feedback from the judges and the resulting awards confirmed he was heading in the right direction. “It gave my confidence a real boost and motivated me to forge ahead.” While the recognition that comes with winning such awards has been good for him personally, it has also been good for Amisfield and, he says, the wine industry in general because it proves wine growers are dedicated to environmental and business sustainability. “It makes people aware that we are serious about leaving this land in good shape for future generations.” Andre says the support provided by his wife Susan has helped him to achieve what he has, and he urges other viticulturists to enter the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. “I’d wholeheartedly support them because it is definitely worthwhile.”
*Mike Bourke, 2006 entrant, Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Mike’s efforts in tree planting earned him a PGG Wrightson Habitat Improvement Award in the 2006 Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards. He was pleasantly surprised to win the award and enjoyed his experiences as a judge in the competition the following year. “I found it really interesting to see what other farmers are doing.”
*Keith and Jo Dennis, 2006 and 2008 entrants, Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards* Keith says they entered the Ballance Farm Environment Awards because they wanted to “measure and mark” where they stood in terms of environmental sustainability. “We wanted to benchmark ourselves and ensure that we were doing everything we could for the owners and for future generations involved with the property.” While they weren’t 100% sure they were doing everything right, Keith says the judging process helped confirm they were on the right path to long term sustainability. Keith says the competition made them think hard about how dairy farmers are perceived – rightly or wrongly – by those outside the industry. “It really brought home to us the importance of being accountable for everything we do.” “I’m a big supporter of the Farm Environment Awards and I’d certainly encourage other dairy farmers to give it a go. As an industry we have to prove to the public that we are doing the right thing for the environment, otherwise we run the risk of becoming over regulated.”