Farm awards plough ahead after adjustments for Covid

• Published date: 04 November 2021
• Publication title: Katikati Advertiser

Even with the disruptions caused by the changes to alert levels in Auckland, Northland and Waikato, the awards have received a pleasing number of entrants across the country allowing the programme to continue, albeit with some adjustments to ensure the safety of all involved.

“Our regional committees have worked hard with the farmers and growers in their communities to ensure a worthwhile and rewarding programme can be completed,” said Joanne van Polanen, chairwoman of the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust.

“It is more important than ever that the great initiatives and work being done by farmers and growers is being celebrated and shared with others.”

The BFEA programme has been slightly adapted to make it safer and less onerous for entrants given the current COVID-19 situation.

This includes the requirement for all judges and entrants to be vaccinated and one round of judging being used to complete the full judging process, thus limiting the amount of contact between entrants and the judging panels.

“Whilst we have had to change our usual processes in an effort to keep our people and participants safe, we have carefully planned and adapted our usual practices to ensure that judging is still thorough and complete and entrants will still receive the valuable feedback that makes entering the awards so worthwhile,” said van Polanen.

In anticipation of more stringent government requirements, and in order to help protect BFEA entrants and the judging...