Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Celebrate the people and places behind the Ballance Farm Environment Awards, from past winners and regional contacts to the farms and sponsors shaping your region.

Key dates.

Entries Open

Now for 2027

Entries Close

31 October 2026

Finalists announced

February 2027

Awards Event

TBC

2026 Open Day

5th May 2026

Current and past BFEA winners.

2026 Waikato Regional Supreme Winner

Fiona & Jon Sherlock

Fiona & Jon Sherlock

Otorohaea Ltd
  • Hill Labs Agri-Science Award
  • Norwood Farming Efficiency Award
  • Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award
  • Waikato Regional Council Water Protection Award
  • NZFET Innovation Award
Read their story

2026 Award Recipients

Luke Campion

Hope Hill Farm
  • FMG Risk Management Award
Read their story

Noel & Lorraine Fox

NR & LA Fox
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
Read their story

Willy & Keely Muir

Muir Farming Partnership
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • Ministry for the Environment Biodiversity Award
  • Waikato River Authority Catchment Improvement Award
Read their story

2025 Waikato Regional Supreme Winner

Tor Pedersen

Tor Pedersen

Broomore Farm 
  • Waikato Regional Supreme Winner 2025
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
  • NZFET Biodiversity Award
  • Waikato Regional Council Water Protection Award
Read their story

2025 Award Recipients

Robert Teal

Bruntwood Gardens 
  • Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award
  • NZFET Innovation Award
Read their story

Roger and Judith Hunt

  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • Hill Labs Agri-Science Award
Read their story

Tim Orlando-Reep

Manawanui Stock Trading Co
  • Norwood Farming Efficiency Award
  • Waikato River Authority Catchment Improvement Award
Read their story

2024 Waikato Regional Supreme Winner

Alastair & Ann Reeves

Alastair & Ann Reeves

Reeves Farms
  • Waikato Regional Supreme Winner 2024
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
  • NZFET Biodiversity Award
  • NZFET Climate Recognition Award
Read their story

2024 Award Recipients

Brad Hancock

Hancock Farms
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
  • NZFET Innovation Award
Read their story

Colin & Dale Armer, Scott Armer and David Briscoe

Armer Farms – Waihora Station
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • Hill Labs Agri-Science Award
  • Norwood Farming Efficiency Award
  • Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award
Read their story

Damien Watson, Chris Tidey and Robin Gerding

Renown Pāmu, Wairakei Pastoral
  • Waikato Regional Council Water Protection Award
  • Waikato River Authority Catchment Improvement Award
Read their story

2023 Waikato Regional Supreme Winner

Anjena, Arjun, Amreeta and Daljit Singh

Anjena, Arjun, Amreeta and Daljit Singh

Lawwal Holsteins
  • Waikato Regional Supreme Winner 2023
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
  • Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award
Read their story

2023 Award Recipients

Chris Pellow

Pellow's Produce
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award
  • Norwood Farming Efficiency Award
Read their story

Graham and Tess Smith

Miraka Farm
  • NZFET Biodiversity Award
  • Waikato Regional Council Water Protection Award
Read their story

Megan and Phil Weir

Stonyford and Harapepe
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
  • Waikato River Authority Catchment Improvement Award
Read their story

Tom, Carrie and Luke Andrews

Wholly Cow
  • NZFET Innovation Award
Read their story

2021 Waikato Regional Supreme Winner

Johan & Kylie Van Ras and Richard & Truus Van Ras

Johan & Kylie Van Ras and Richard & Truus Van Ras

Waiorongomai Valley Farms
  • Waikato Regional Supreme Winners 2021
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
  • Synlait Future Leaders Award
  • WaterForce Integrated Management Award
Read their story

2021 Award Recipients

Michael & Susie Woodward

Woodward Farms
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • Norwood Agri-Business Management Award
Read their story

Murray and Janet Easton

Mamahi
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Award
Read their story

Peter Levin and Phil Barton

Levin & Co.
  • Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award
  • Waikato River Authority Catchment Improvement Award
Read their story

Russell and Mavis Profit

Raupuha Stud
  • Massey University Innovation Award
  • Waikato Regional Council Water Protection Award
Read their story

2020 Waikato Regional Supreme Winner

Mark & Felicity Brough

Mark & Felicity Brough

Paerua
  • Waikato Regional Supreme Winner 2020
  • Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award
  • Waikato Regional Council Water Protection Award
Read their story

2020 Award Recipients

Bryan Frederick & Stu Morgan

Waikeria Prison Farm
  • Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award
  • Synlait Climate Stewardship Award
  • Waikato River Authority Catchment Improvement Award
Read their story

Chris Irons & Debra Hastie

Te Waitere View
  • Norwood Agri-Business Management Award
Read their story

Damien Watson & Joan Barendsen

Renown – Landcorp Farming Pāmu
  • Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award
  • DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award
  • Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award
  • WaterForce Wise with Water Award
Read their story

Tim and Rach Phillips

Waipa Meadow
  • Massey University Innovation Award
Read their story

Celebrating stewardship across Waikato.

Waikato

From Shade Trees to Stewardship: The early vision of Snow Chubb

View their story
Waikato

Taiea te Taiao

Catchment Group
View their story
Waikato

Anjena, Arjun, Amreeta and Daljit Singh

Lawwal Holsteins
View their story
Waikato

Alastair & Ann Reeves

Reeves Farms
View their story
Waikato

Roger and Judith Hunt

View their story
Our regional partner

Waikato Regional Council

Long‑standing collaborator working with farmers, iwi and communities to protect land and waterways together.

Waikato Regional Council has a long-standing relationship with the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust with strongly aligned objectives around promoting sustainable farming in our region. The council is pleased to support the Trust and to play a key role in supporting successful awards in the Waikato.

Collaboration is vital. Only through working together can we be successful in sharing and promoting sound on-farm environmental management practices. Sustainable farming is fundamental to the continued wellbeing of the Waikato region both environmentally and economically.

The council works collaboratively to protect water quality in the Waikato, joining with iwi and stakeholders to develop regional plans that help restore and protect the health of the Waikato and Waipa rivers which, along with our other waterways, are a key to a vibrant regional economy.

The Trust and the Ballance Farm Environment Awards play a very important role in progressing this long-term goal of better protection for our land and waterways, and the Council continues to support their work in promoting sustainable practices.

View website

Waikato region awards.

Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award

This Award focuses on the management of soil and nutrients. A strong understanding of nutrients and nutrient budgeting is demonstrated. The impacts of nutrients and management practices on both soil fertility as well as surface and ground water are understood and well managed.

Bayleys People in Primary Sector Award

This Award is focused on the all-important people side of the farming and growing business. It recognises the importance of staff management, succession, community involvement, health and safety and other practices associated with people management and wellbeing.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award

This Award recognises the livestock farmer who demonstrates a commitment to long-term land and animal stewardship. It considers sustainable use of land, labour and capital resources, with livestock well cared for and stock class and type managed appropriately to the land contour and soil type.

DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award

This Award recognises dairy farmers who demonstrate a strong commitment to managing, protecting and enhancing their environment. It focuses on sustainable on-farm actions that show high standards of environmental care and sustainable use of the land, stock, labour and capital resources.

FMG Risk Management Award

This award recognises those who have identified and proactively managed any risks that could negatively impact their business to minimise the likelihood or severity of those risks. This covers all aspects of people management and farm planning, including business and financial risk management.

Hill Labs Agri-Science Award

This Award recognises excellence in the use of science and monitoring to optimise productivity and minimise environmental impacts. A good understanding of soil, water, plant and crop protection should be demonstrated, with supporting measurement and monitoring in evidence.

Ministry for the Environment Biodiversity Award

This award recognises the biological diversity of the farming and growing business. It acknowledges the mahi of both the present and past guardians (Kaitiaki) of the land that have created an environment that encourages and allows biodiversity to thrive.

Norwood Farming Efficiency Award

This Award recognises the farmer or grower who is actively focused on resource use efficiency. It takes into account different types of efficiency such as equipment or fuel efficiency or precision agriculture and recognises those who are making data driven decisions to determine resource use.

Rabobank Agri-Business Management Award

This award recognises how farmers and growers manage a successful, sustainable farm business, including the use of business plans, benchmarking and succession planning. It also acknowledges engagement with industry professionals and networks that support long-term business sustainability.

Waikato Regional Council Water Protection Award

This Award is given in recognition of excellent knowledge and attitude towards riparian management. The recipient will have sound mitigation strategies in place, including good soil conservation measures and strategic planting near water bodies.

Waikato River Authority Catchment Improvement Award

This award recognises a farmer who has assessed how their farm impacts the river and its tributaries, implemented changes to improve the river’s mauri (well-being), and can clearly articulate a vision for future environmental enhancements.

Regional coordinator.

Lana Ball
021 163 0307
waikato@bfea.org.nz

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