30,287 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast
September 2022 Edition
INSIDE
THIS EDITION Oakley’s win
p3 In high spirits
p7 Boost for schools
p28 Global biosecurity
p38
Recognition: North Canterbury farmers Geoff and rochelle Spark have received a ballance Farm environment Award for helping to foster a connection between town and country on their torlesse Farm in eyrewell.
Recognition for farmers’ community involvement Developing an environmentally sustainable dairying and beef farming operation which has evolved to become a hub of community activities has earned a husband-and-wife farming couple a top rural award.
] by Kent Caddick North-Canterbury couple Geoff and Rochelle Spark, who own and manage Torlesse Farm in Eyrewell, won the People in Primary Sector title at this year’s Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The People in Primary Sector category was sponsored by Bayleys Canterbury. Torlesse Farm runs about 1700 dairy cows across some 450-hectares, with a fur-
Getting the right advice early makes a difference.
ther 400 hectares split between dairy support and beef grazing. The farm sells approximately 80 prime grade cattle each year, and the Sparks have diversified the business to include grazing and grass sales, in addition to operating a commercial weigh bridge and a purpose-built function venue. The couple moved onto the family owned Torlesse Farm in 1995, eventually buying it from Geoff’s parents in 2005.
Geoff and Rochelle Spark entered the Ballance Farm Environment Awards because they believed they had a positive business story to share – understanding that in order for their rural commercial activity to be sustainable, it needed to perform at a high standard, not only from a production perspective, but also including environmental stewardship.
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