The 2011 Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year will hold a field day on their South Canterbury property in early March.
Raymond and Adrianne Bowan will open Fallgate Farm and their Heartland Potato Chip factory to the rural community to show how innovation helped them turn well grown potatoes into great tasting chips.
Lincoln University Foundation chairman Neil Taylor expects many people from throughout the South Island and potato growers from around the country to attend the field day.
“The Field Day is an opportunity for all farmers, especially growers, to learn how the Bowan’s commitment to innovation on an ongoing basis enabled them to achieve their dreams through complete vertical integration,” says Mr Taylor.
Raymond Bowan says those attending the Field Day will get to see how both the farms and the factory operate, hear about our farm management style, our innovative practices, production levels and profitability.
“We see the Field Day as a chance to give back to everyone who has helped us over the years. Hopefully it will also inspire others to focus on using innovation to grow their own business.”
From the Paddock to the Packet Field Day starts at 9:45am on 2 March 2012 at Fallgate Farm, 42 Milton Road, Orari, South Canterbury. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP jan.latham@lincoln.ac.nz by 27 February.
During the day buses will take attendees to the Heartland Potato Chip factory which is 30 minutes away in Washdyke before returning to the farm.
The Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year competition is the South Island’s premier farming competition. Preparation for this year’s competition is underway and farmers who are able to demonstrate how innovation has improved their farming operations are asked to enter.
You can find out more about the competition by visiting www.lincolnuniversityfoundation.org.nz.
For further information please contact:
Neil Taylor
Chairman - Lincoln University Foundation
021 662 148
neil.taylor@xtra.co.nz
or
Daniel O’Regan
Convergence Communications
03 943 0580, 021 832 151
daniel@conv.co.nz
Editor’s notes:
Brief biography of the 2011 South Island Farmers of the Year
Raymond and Adrianne Bowan farm 1214 hectares in Orari and 197 hectares at Coldstream on the North Bank of the Rangitata River. With 95 percent of their farm irrigated they grow potatoes, cereals, barley, maze and grass seed.
Increasingly they are wintering dairy cows and last year 2,500 cows wintered on their property. Ray is a director of Grainstor and of Seedlands and is an original member of the Rangitata South Irrigation Scheme.
In 2009 when a potato chip factory in Washdyke closed down the Bowans bought the factory and established Heartland Potato Chips which employs 15 people.
The Bowans have been farming for over 40 years and now their family is involved in the day-to-day running of the properties with their son working on the farm, one daughter working in the office and a Christchurch-based daughter who helps out with marketing.
The Lincoln University Foundation South Island Farmer of the Year Competition – Applications are sought from throughout the South Island. Judges assess each written application and visit each farm to identify the finalists. A second more in-depth visit is made by the judges to each farm and in November the finalists present to the public, following which a winner is announced.
Judges are looking for measurable and transferable innovative activity. This may range from a new production process or a management technique/programme to a new selling/marketing approach or a combination of these.
An open day is held on the winning farm and members of the rural community are invited to attend. The winners use the prize money for further education/study in New Zealand or overseas.
The Lincoln University Foundation – Set up by Lincoln University alumni during the University’s centenary year in 1978, the primary purpose of the Foundation is to advance education in the fields of agriculture and related interests in New Zealand. Travel awards are provided for educational purposes, research, or to attend a course of study in New Zealand or overseas. The South Island Farmer of the Year is the Foundation’s showcase event.