2024 Horizons Finalists: Peter & Ally Apthorp, and Nathan Ebbett of Springview Agriculture – Sheep, Beef and Crops Springview Agriculture is a great example of good neighbours becoming good friends and – ultimately – formidable business partners who are striving toward a shared vision. The Apthorp and Ebbett families were long-time neighbours before they joined forces […]
Industry: Cropping
Peter & Ally Apthorp, and Nathan Ebbett of Springview Agriculture
Andrew & Peter Gilchrist of Gilchrist Brothers
2024 Canterbury Finalists: Andrew & Peter Gilchrist of Gilchrist Brothers – Mixed Cropping, Dairy Support & Contracting A diversity of income streams is driving success for the Gilchrist brothers, largely due to a focus on people and the continued fine-tuning of the business. In 2005, Andrew and Peter Gilchrist bought a one-man spraying business and, today, […]
Shane Janssen of Punawai Farm
2023 Finalists: Shane Janssen of Punawai Farm – Sheep, Beef and Cropping For 27 years, farm manager Shane Janssen has been at the helm of Punawai Farm – aiming to strike a balance between environmental awareness and stock management. The 500ha (470ha effective) Hawke’s Bay property is owned by John and Jay Benton who bought […]
David and Adrienne Wordsworth of D&A Wordsworth
2023 Finalists: David and Adrienne Wordsworth of D&A Wordsworth – Cropping, Silage/Hay, & Beef Thirty years of hard work is evident at David and Adrienne Wordsworth’s Dargaville farm, however they believe they’re only part way through their journey. Their ultimate goal is to leave the land in a better state than when they took over, […]
Horizons Regional Supreme Winners 2022: Richard and Suze Redmayne of Tunnel Hill
Regional Supreme Winners 2022: Richard and Suze Redmayne of Tunnel Hill – Sheep, Beef, Maize and Forestry Richard Redmayne has literally been born and bred at this Wanganui property and, along with his family, has continued its successful development with an eye on the future. His great grandfather Wilfrid Perry bought Tunnel Hill in 1936, […]
Meet the BFEA Entrants from the Horizons Region
Richard and Suze Redmayne Tunnel Hill – Sheep, beef, maize and forestry Richard’s great grandfather bought Tunnel Hill in 1936, with future generations running the farm until Richard and his wife Suze took over in 1993. Sheep, beef, maize and forestry are farmed across 950ha of the property that features large stretches of coastal land. Their investment in forestry and […]
Waikato 2021 Regional Supreme Winners – the van Ras Family
Regional Supreme Winners 2021: Johan and Kylie van Ras from Waiorongomai Valley Farms It’s a family affair at this Morrinsville Dairy Farm with two generations living on the land that the van Ras family purchased along with Johan’s parents in 2010 after previously leasing the farm for 6 years. The 76 ha farm has 8 ha […]
The Stanley’s Ron & Cathy, Noel & Suzy and Karl & Nicola – Stanley Brothers Trust
2020 finalists: The Stanley’s – Ron & Cathy, Noel & Suzy and Karl & Nicola of Stanley Brothers Trust – Pork producer, cropping, fattening cattle. There’s been a big investment in future-proofing at this Opunake property, with the Stanley brothers embracing new technologies to drive productivity and animal welfare. While pork production is the farm’s main business, it is bolstered by two additional income streams – […]
Brendon & Rachel Williams – Pencoed Trust
The couple are third generation farmers on this property that was originally bought for its excellent soils, with decision-making very much centred around caring for this precious resource. They’re highly aware of their environment, viewing it as a ‘bank’ that must be maintained and improved. The judges were impressed with Brendon’s enthusiasm for using precision […]
Richard and Chrissie Wright – Tamar
2020 finalists: Richard & Chrissie Wright of Tamar – Beef, dairy & Cropping. Scale is no barrier, and attention to detail paramount, at this 1,850ha Mt Somers property that has grown considerably since the Wrights bought it in 2002. The business is an inspiring example of a family committed to advancing good people into farming and […]
Ian & Kylie Brown – Cheltenham Downs
Ian and Kylie Brown have big dreams and their impressive discipline is making them a reality. Their goal for their multi-faceted business Cheltenham Downs – operated as part of Pāmu, Farms of New Zealand (formerly Landcorp) – is to create a “farm of the future for people, animals and the environment”. The Browns have farmed […]
2013 Otago Regional Supreme Winners
Mitchell Webster’s intensive cropping operation and wholesale business producing bird and small animal feed is based on the Mitchell family’s historic ‘Rosedale’ farm at Weston, but covers 1380ha of arable land in North Otago. It is, according to the award judges, “a credit to the Mitchell and Webster families, an extraordinary and inspirational family business […]
2013 Canterbury Regional Supreme WInners
Intensive land use can also be sustainable land use say Criage and Roz Mackenzie, a progressive couple who are clearly comfortable with any scrutiny of farming practices on their mid-Canterbury properties. The award judges were impressed, writing in their feedback report: “They operate an extremely intensive irrigated arable operation in the Methven district utilising state […]
2011 Canterbury Regional Supreme Winners
Eric and Maxine Watson’s combination of efficient productivity and environmental consideration on their 490ha arable property just east of Ashburton drew comprehensive praise from the award judges. The judges wrote in their feedback report: “It is clear that with your sound agronomic management, thorough understanding of the science behind the production system, efficient and sustainable […]
2009 Canterbury Regional Supreme Winners
Market-driven production and a focus on small scale specialist crops have been a hallmark of Nick and Michelle Ward’s farming operation at Milford near Temuka. Nick’s family have been farming in the area for four generations. He returned to the family farm in 1987, and Nick and Michelle started farming on their own account in […]