The Country 20/06/24: Karen Williams talks to Jamie Mackay

We catch up with the head judge of the BFEAs ahead of tonight's announcement of the 2024 win.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, Karen, Have I got youall's that's two in a
row with my new studio. I'm very please let me
sort out the levels. Hey, you're the chief judge or
the head judge for the Balanced Farm Environment Awards and
just before and you're also a former vice president of
Federated Farmers And I know Karen that you're also involved
with FMG and on that subject, just before I go

(00:22):
to you, if you missed field Days this year, FMG
and the Country are giving you the chance to catch
up on all the action and be into one of
the thousand dollars. So head to the Country Facebook page
and answer this question, what is Grant's favorite go to
area at field Days? You'll find the answer in FMG
and Rowena's Field Days video. Simply comment with your answer

(00:43):
in your room in with the draw to win that
thousand bucks from FMG. They're here for the good of
the Country and just a we reminded as dodgy scammers
out there, if anyone gets in touch with you and
ask for credit details, just kick them to touch. Now
where are you?

Speaker 2 (00:59):
There?

Speaker 1 (00:59):
You go? They're hello Karen. Hey, I think you and
I first met at Claudland's at the Balance Farm Environment
Awards a dozen or so years ago.

Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, eleven years ago when we were in Regional Supreme
Winners for the Greater Wellington Region and I got to
sit next to you, Jamie.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Well it was a highlight for both of us. Well,
it was a highlight for me. Anyhow, little was I
to know that you would go on to far greater
things in agriculture.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
Oh, thank you. Look, that's part of the Balance Farm
Environment Award program. Is it sort of grooms people into
next next steps and our leadership.

Speaker 1 (01:34):
Claudland's it's all happening because in a few weeks time
we will be heading there or I won't be. I
know Rowena is heading down for the Young Farmer Grand Final.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
Yeah. Hamilton seems to have been hosting a real array
of things this year, which is great.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
What can we expect tonight because we are I'm coming
in tomorrow morning to speak to the winners at I
think eight fifteen tomorrow morning. I won't be able to
watch I won't be able to watch golf in the morning, Karen,
I'll have to come in early and do that. Can
you tell me who the winners are so I can
maybe arrange a more civil time to pre record them.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
Absolutely not that's under tightally held secret. But what I
can tell you is that all of the ten Regional
Supreme winners have been through a series of judging and
they had an on farm judging with Warwick Ketto and
Jamie Strang in the past few weeks, and then yesterday
they had a thirty minute interview with a judging panel

(02:32):
and they were asked various questions of topical questions relating
to issues and challenges and opportunities in the egg and
hawk sector. So they've come through a pretty pretty lengthy
process and we were personally speaking, very proud to see
how well these people operate and how well they champion

(02:54):
and represent our primary sector.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
I don't end for you the job because I know
all the regional finalists. Any one of them, to be
honest with Karen, and we've got about thirty seconds left,
would be deserving winners the standard And I was with
the Balance Farm Environment Awards from the very beginning, but
the standards have gone through the roof.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, it's really heartening to see that year after year,
people of such a high caliber keep coming through, and
it's across the primary industries as well, and look at
that shows that our sector is in really good heart
and has a strong and our successful future.

Speaker 1 (03:32):
He'd well you enjoy yourself at those Balanced Farm Environment
Awards tonight, Karen Williams, thanks for your time.

Speaker 2 (03:39):
Well, thank you, Jamie