When farming needed some good news

When Mark and Susannah Guscott first entered the Ballance Farm Environment Awards more than 20 years ago they were at the beginning of their farming journey. 

Having not long taken over Mark’s family farm, they were busy raising young children, managing change and looking for honest feedback on how they could improve. 

“We were keen to get feedback on our operation and see what things we could do differently,” Mark said. 

While they didn’t take home the regional supreme award that year, they gained something just as valuable – insight. The judging process highlighted opportunities for improvement and helped shape future decisions on the farm. 

Over the years, the couple retired areas of native bush, diversified their income through agritourism and continued to develop and expand a business they were proud of. 

Although they were encouraged to enter the Awards again several times, they felt comfortable with the direction they were heading and didn’t feel the need for another expert assessment. 

That changed in 2024. 

At a time when farmer confidence was low, they saw an opportunity to share their passion for farming and hoped that Mark’s relentless positivity would help others.  “We were also proud of what we’d achieved on our farm, so saw it as a chance to share our story” recalls Susannah. 

That decision led to them winning the Regional Supreme Award last year, but the recognition wasn’t the biggest benefit. 

The Awards reaffirmed that they were on the right track and gave them confidence to keep pushing forward. It also expanded their professional networks and introduced them to passionate people from across the agricultural sector. 

“Being involved in the Awards just solidified that we were doing the right things,” Mark said. “We’ve also met some amazing people through the programme.” 

For farmers who think they might not be ready to enter, Mark believes that’s exactly why they should. 

“It’s a really good way to get a set of expert eyes to look over your business and offer feedback. You also meet like-minded people who are passionate about the industry and you learn a lot, it broadens your thinking and pushes you outside your comfort zone,” he said.  

And there is another benefit that shouldn’t be overlooked. 

“It’s also just a bloody good excuse to get off the farm and have a night out,” he said, laughing.  

Their message is simple: You don’t need to have the farm in perfect order to enter. Whether you’re at the beginning of your journey or decades into it, the Ballance Farm Environment Awards provide an opportunity to reflect, learn, connect and celebrate the great work happening across New Zealand’s food and fibre sector.