NZ future agri-leaders in running for trans-Tasman award

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MEDIA RELEASE

21st January 2016

New Zealand’s future agri-leaders in running for trans-Tasman award

• 2016 Zanda McDonald Award finalists announced

Two young New Zealand agri-business professionals have made it through to the finals for the 2016 Zanda McDonald Award.

Dean Rabbidge, a dairy, beef and sheep farmer from Wyndham, Southland, and Erica van Reenen, an agricultural and environmental consultant with AgFirst, based in Manawatu, have been selected as finalists alongside soil scientist, Wesley Lefroy, from Western Australia.

The three, who attended interviews in Brisbane late last year, will join the PPP ‘Capital Connections’ Conference in Wellington in March - where the award winner will be announced.

Shane McManaway, award judge and Chairman of the Platinum Primary Producers (PPP) – the trans-Tasman networking group behind the award, says the future of agriculture in Australasia lies in the hands of young leaders like Dean, Erica and Wesley.

“These individuals have a most impressive skill set. They are intelligent, hands on, practical, personable, innovative and visionary. They are the ones who will take agriculture forward and the PPP Group is delighted to be able to help them along the way.”

The award prize package, valued at around $30,000, includes a tailored mentoring package whereby the winner spends time with relevant PPP members, a place on Rabobank’s Farm Manager’s programme and a cash component.

The 2016 judging panel comprises – Shane McManaway, PPP Chairman and Wairarapa farmer, Emily Crofoot from Wairarapa’s Castlepoint Station, Julie McDonald, Head of Finance at MDH Pty in Queensland, Troy Setter, CEO of CPC (Consolidated Pastoral Company), Charlie de Fegely, well-respected sheep farmer in Victoria, and Pat Gunston of Allflex Australia.

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