Awards Made To Young Farmers

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31079, 7 June 1966, Page 1

Awards Made To Young Farmers

Messrs G. B. Henderson, of Lyndhurst, Mid-Canterbury, and J. N. Tripe, of Fordell, near Wanganui, are the winners of the South and North Island A. C. Cameron Memorial gold medal awards for young farmers’ club members, says a statement by the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand.

The competition is sponsored annually by the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, and is open to young farmers not over 45 years of age, who have been active members of a young farmers’ club. They must have used progressive farming methods which have increased production and influenced farming in the district, and shown qualities of leadership and an active interest in civic affairs. Mr Henderson farms 279 acres on light plains land in the Methven area with a 32in rainfall. He farms intensively. growing wheat, peas, linseed, barley, swedes, and rape, in iddition to having closer seed and grazing 900 halfbred ewes, 480 'hreequarterbred hoggets, and 24 two-year heifers and steers. Up to 800 store lambs are also fattened.

Mr Henderson's highly efficient management has a great influence on other young farmers, continues the statement.

A substantial increase in carrying capacity has been achieved on Mr Tripe’s 1300acre farm. ' r his steep and rugged farm five years ago carried 1500 ewes, 400 wethers, and 70 cattle, but with improved farming techniques it now winters 2000 ewes, 3300 wethers, 1200 hoggets, 80 breeding cows, and 65 young cattle. Mr Tripe is a past Wanganui district chairman of the Young Farmers’ Club and is vice-president of the meat and wool section of Wanganui Federated Farmers.

The gold medals will be presented at the time of the Freeman memorial lecture held in conjunction with the Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs’ annual meeting in Christchurch this week. Mr E. G. O. Rutherford, vicepresident of the Royal Agricultural Society, will make the presentation. The award was named in honour of the late Mr A. C. Cameron, of Dunedin, one of the founders of the youiig farmers’ club movement.