2015 Winners
2015 Australian Farmer of the Year: Matt Dunbabin
The Australian farming industry is toasting Tasmanian farmer Matt Dunbabin, after he was crowned the 2015 Kondinin Group-ABC Rural Australian Farmer of the Year at a gala awards dinner at InterContinental Sydney on Wednesday, September 9.
2015 Biosecurity Farmer of the Year: Lindsay Bourke
Lindsay Bourke’s Tasmanian honey business continues to attract international attention. Australian Honey Products manages 3600 hives for honey production and pollination of over 80 crops.
2015 Young Farmer of the Year: Anika Molesworth
Anika Molesworth manages her parents’ 10,000 acre Dorper sheep property in Broken Hill, but it’s her quest to embrace organic farming that sets her apart from the rest.
2015 Grain Grower of the Year: Darren Jensen
Darren Jensen views himself as an opportunity farmer more interested in turning “rain into grain”, and he has proven this on his 1000 hectare farm in Biloela, Queensland.This mindset means that if there is 500mm of moisture, a crop will be planted.
2015 Livestock Producer of the Year: Prue & David Bondfield
David and Prue Bondfield own Palgrove, a family-run seedstock and commercial cattle enterprise which sells up to 1000 Charolais, Charbray and Ultrablack bulls annually across Australia, as well as export bulls and genetics to several overseas markets.
2015 Horticultural Grower of the Year: Matthew Bailey
Innovation is the aim of the game for Matthew Bailey, and the idea to introduce an insectarium to control pest and disease within his vineyard has been a game-changer.
2015 Agricultural Student of the Year: Will Ryan
William Ryan has already been identified as an emerging leader of the Australian dairy industry. In 2014 William was selected by the Gardiner Foundation to accompany the former Victorian Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh on a trade mission to China to understand the value of dairy and where the opportunities lie for Australian products into the Chinese market.