Craig Hickson and Dr Doug Edmeades scoop top awards

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29 June 2012

Craig Hickson and Dr Doug Edmeades scoop Federated Farmers top awards

At a gala event last evening in Auckland, supported by Vodafone and Beef+Lamb NZ, Progressive Meats Managing Director, Craig Hickson, was named 2012 Allflex/Federated Farmers Agribusiness Person of the Year with Dr Doug Edmeades named as the Ravensdown/Federated Farmers Agri Personality for 2012.

“We are pleased to have such high calibre award winners,” says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers President.

“Preceding our awards was the Vodafone Cream of the Crop; the only occasion I believe where all of agriculture’s major award winners assemble under the same roof. It is a privilege to have so many exceptional farmers in the same room at the same time.

“The two awards Federated Farmers issues are the Agribusiness Person of the Year in association with Allflex and the Agri Personality of the Year, in association with Ravensdown.

“It was a big decision for judges Andrew Newman, Cr. Hon. Christine Fletcher and Waikato University’s Professor Jacqueline Rowarth.

“From five exceptional nominations we are pleased to confirm Progressive Meats Managing Director, Craig Hickson, as 2012 Allflex/Federated Farmers Agribusiness Person of the Year.

“As Craig is speaking at the LambEx conference in Australia, Beef+Lamb NZ chair, Mike Petersen, accepted the award on his behalf. For those who don’t know Craig he his a hands-on farmer but the name of his company pretty much sums up his philosophy.

“Craig runs a mixed 1200 hectare sheep, deer and beef farm in Hawke's Bay and in addition to Progressive Meats, is a member of the Meat Board. Craig is also a Director of Ovation New Zealand and a number of other meat companies. Somehow he finds the time to sit on the Boards of both Beef+Lamb New Zealand Ltd and Ovita Limited.

“Our other major award is the Ravensdown/Federated Farmers Agri Personality for 2012. This is determined by the main board of Federated Farmers itself and we had a wealth of people to choose from who had really stood up over the past year.

“Ironically it was one of the finalists from the Agribusiness person of the year for 2011 who took the title.

“That being the passionate and highly charismatic Dr Doug Edmeades of AgKnowledge. Doug has worked closely with Federated Farmers as an expert witness and has emerged as a scientific advocate for sensible farming practices.

“Doug is a scientist who argues in the media for solutions and not problems making him a very popular choice,” Mr Wills concluded.

ENDS

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