Wayne Langford is Federated Farmers’ new vice-president after being elected to the position at the organisation’s annual meeting in Auckland.
The Golden Bay dairy farmer will be joined by three new board members, new dairy chair Richard McIntyre and two ‘at large’ members Sandra Faulkner and Mark Hooper.
Langford has served as Feds dairy industry chairman for the past two years.
President Andrew Hoggard was re-elected unopposed.
Board vacancies were created when Chris Lewis, Chris Allen and vice-president Karen Williams stepped down.
The federation’s chief executive Terry Copeland said the fact a number of people had put their hands up for board positions was a sign the organisation is in good health.
The other vice-president nomination was from former Otago provincial president Simon Davies.
The role of vice-president is seen as a stepping stone to the Feds’ president role, arguably one of the most influential in agriculture but also one that is demanding and time-consuming, Copeland said said.
Langford told the annual meeting there was no shortage of challenges facing agriculture, “but I believe we have more opportunities in front of us than we do headwinds”.
With local body elections this year,and a general election next year, Federated Farmers’ advocacy efforts were vital, he said.
Colin Hurst has retained the arable industry chairman’s role, Richard McIntyre is the new dairy industry chairman and William Beetham is the meat and wool chairman.
All three will also join the national board.
