Michael and Karen Toulmin have been named the Silver Fern Farms’ Hawke’s Bay Farmers of the Year.
The Toulmins farm Makuranui, a 210-hectare sheep and beef farm located in the Waiwhare District in northwestern Hawke’s Bay.
The Toulmins’ operation has a large trading component alongside heifer grazing.
They were presented with the award at the Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Awards on April 4 at the Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre.
Organised by the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society, the Primary Sector Awards have a long history and contribute significantly to the primary industry across the region.
According to the judge’s citation, the Toulmins use of crops and feed management alongside great stock management is achieving extremely high production levels.
“Michael and Karen set themselves apart from strong competition through a highly professional presentation of their farming business, which not only showed through in the information provided to the judges but was borne out through what was exhibited on farm,” the citation reads.
“They had a comprehensive understanding of all facets of their business across key strategic pillars, which gave the judges confidence that an overriding sustainability mindset was both talked and walked.”
Their business growth, while holding down varying stages of full-time employment and raising a family, was impressive and displayed vision, risk taking, a quest for excellence and fundamentally a very strong work ethic and focus, the judges said.
The full list of winners are:
Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay Farmer of the Year – Michael and Karen Toulmin
Laurie Dowling Memorial Award – Jacky Stafford
Horticentre Trust Hawke’s Bay Horticulturalist of the Year – Ben James
Pan Pac Hawke’s Bay Farm Forester of the Year – Thomas Gordon
Lawson Robinson Hawke’s Bay Scholarship – Guy von Dadelszen
Unison Hawke’s Bay Primary Sector Professional of the Year Brent Paterson
Heretaunga Hastings District Council Primary Sector Industry Leader – John Loughlin
Craigs Investment Partners Emerging Leader Jack Jensen
Bayleys Hawke’s Bay Innovation Award – Dr Mark Bart Metris
In Focus Podcast: Full Show | 5 April
