NSW Farmer of the Year awards
The NSW Farmer of the Year and the NSW Young Farmer of the Year awards are designed to recognise excellence in the state’s agricultural sector.
The awards are a joint initiative between NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and NSW Farmers’, with support from SafeWork NSW and The Land.
The NSW Farmer of the Year Award is open to all farmers in NSW, while the NSW Young Farmer of the Year Award is open to NSW farmers aged between 18 and 35.
Farmer is a general term that can include fishers, foresters or any primary industries enterprise. We support diversity and encourage everyone in the farming community to apply.
2019 winners announced
Congratulations to our 2019 Farmer and Young Farmer of the Year winners, announced at the Farm Writers Christmas Lunch at NSW Parliament House on Wednesday 11 December.
Chris Hall
Chris is a third generation mixed enterprise farmer specialising in growing and packing export quality premium cherries as well as cross breed sheep, angus cattle, cereal and mixed species cover crops.
- Read Chris' full profile.
Renae Connell
Dairy farmer, mother, wife and the Dorrigo district’s very own Wonder Woman is how her peers have described her. Renae has described herself as a daughter-in-law with a fire in her belly to prove her worth.
- Read Renae's full profile.
2019 NSW Farmer Of The Year finalists
Lauren Newell
Linga Longa Farm, Wingham NSW
A tree changer from the corporate world, love brought Lauren to farming but it is her love of numbers that is bringing diversity to the farm and the farm to the plates of consumers locally and further afield.
- Read Lauren's full profile.
Matthew Fenech
Fenech Family Farm, Horsley Park NSW
Matthew is a third generation poultry farmer located in a peri urban area that has undergone tremendous demographic change since his grandparents established the business in the 1960s.
- Read Matthew's full profile.
2019 NSW Young Farmer Of The Year finalist
Tim Carroll
The Bridge Ironbark Agribusiness, Borenore NSW
Already an industry leader in his own right, in addition to running his mixed enterprise agribusiness, Tim is a former Chair of the NSW Young Farmers Council and advocates for the future of agriculture and the next generation of farmers.
- Read Tim's full profile.
What we look for
Awards criteria includes farming businesses or enterprises that can demonstrate:
- great techniques being used to boost productivity and yield
- effective tools and approaches used to streamline businesses
- innovative ways to prepare for the future
- initiatives made to keep themselves, and their staff, safe and well.
What you can win
The winner of each category will receive $4,000 prize money while runners up receive $2,000.
Important dates
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Nominations Open | 23 July 2019 |
| Nominations Close | 23 September 2019 |
| Awards Presentation | 11 December 2019 in Sydney |
More information or assistance
- Email: support@nswfarmeroftheyear.com.au
- Phone: Anna-Kate McDonald on 1300 794 000
Past winners
Be inspired by the past winners.
