Newspaper Article 1989 – Field day will show how award was won

Field day will show how award was won

Again the Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society’s Farmer of the Year Competition has found an extremely worthy winner of the prestigious award.

From a total of 13 entries Donald Macdonald, Mangatarata Station, Waipukurau, was declared the winner by field judges Mr Tom Crosse, of Patoka Station, and Mr Tony Fraser, managing district valuer, Valuation New Zealand, Napier.

Organisation is now well advanced for the field day on Thursday, June 1.

It is at this field day that people can see and hear why this farmer has won the award.

The field judges listed as reasons for their selection Donald’s high level of management skills, the high level of stock performance, his flexible management policies, all of which were enhanced by his ability to make decisions quickly and early enough to enable stock performance to be maintained at high levels.

These results and policies are being achieved on a dry hill country property, typical of much of Hawke’s Bay farms, and its performance levels even in this year of drought, greatly impressed the judges on their inspection of the property.

Visitors to the property for the field day on Thursday will be able to see what the judges saw and will, no doubt, be as impressed as were the judges.

People can be assured of an interesting and instructive day.

The programme will start at 10am at the Mangatarata Station woolshed, Waipukurau (follow the field day signs).

A light luncheon and afternoon tea is being provided at a small charge by the Hunter Park Kindergarten Association.

Ray Guilford, senior agriculture consultant, MAFTech, Waipukurau, will conduct the day.

Transport around the property will be by four-wheel-drive vehicles, so the organiser would appreciate as many people as possible bringing such a vehicle.

In the morning session the property and its management will be seen and discussed.

The session will include development, water supplies, soil conservation, and sheep policies and management.

The lunch break will be taken between 12.15 and 1.15pm.

The afternoon session will continue with inspection and discussion on cattle policies, fertilisers, lamb-selling policies, pasture (special purpose) and crops.

The day will end with afternoon tea at about 3.15pm.