30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast for over 25 years
April 2025 Edition
INSIDE
THIS EDITION Farm awards
p5 Rivers in the sky
p19 Fonterra changes On form: Banks Peninsula Young Farmers Club member George Letham shows the form which took him to first place in the Tasman FMG Young Farmer of the Year regional final in Sheffield.
p24 Canadians inspired
Letham to grand final The adage of ‘if you don’t succeed at first try again’ has proved prophetic for Banks Peninsula Young Farmers Club member George Letham after he secured top spot in the Tasman Young Farmer of the Year regional final in Sheffield recently.
] by Lucy Field-Dodgson p38
After finishing runner-up to the eventual 2024 FMG Young Farmer of the Year national winner George Dodson in last year’s Tasman regional final, the Lincoln-based Letham has now proven he has what it takes to represent the region on the national stage. The 27-year-old emerged on top after
spending the day competing in a series of challenges at the Malvern A&P Showgrounds. Competing in the Agri-Sports challenge in front of the crowd at the Malvern A&P Show late last month was a standout moment for Letham. “It was really cool getting amongst the atmosphere of the show for the last challenge of the day,” he said.
“Having the whole crowd watching you added a layer of expectation and pressure, but it was also the perfect way to prepare for the Grand Final.” He said to win was a pretty cool feeling now that the win had sunk in. “I was a bit surprised to see my name at the top of the leaderboard heading into the quiz.
TO PAGE 2
OVER $567M OF RURAL PROPERTY SALES IN CANTERBURY From 1 April 2024 to 20 March 2025
The Bayleys Country and Lifestyle team have been bringing deals together across all sectors of the rural real estate market - dairy, cropping, deer, fattening, grazing, bare land, support blocks and lifestyle properties. Experience the country’s number one rural real estate brand.
03 375 4700 | bayleys.co.nz/canterbury
WHALAN AND PARTNERS LTD, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
BAYLEYS IS A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE
Residential / Commercial / Rural / Property Services