Accolades in agriculture

Former Federated Farmers president Dr William Rolleston is humbled by his New Year Honour, but says the real recognition needs to go to the nation’s thousands of farmers.

Federation leader from 2014-17, Rolleston has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

After a career as a general practice doctor, Rolleston co-established the biotechnology company South Pacific Sera in 1988.

In 2011 Rolleston helped set up the ‘‘Farmy Army’’ after the Christchurch earthquake.

He was the founding chairman of the Biotechnology Industry Organisation and of the Life Sciences Network, an umbrella organisation which advocates for science-based regulation of genetic modification.

Rolleston will continue to play an active role in science as the chairman of Genomics Aotearoa, based at Otago University. He also oversees the 4000-hectare Blue Cliffs station.

Former dairy farmer Penny Mudford has been made an Officer of the Order chiefly for her work in dispute resolution, although she has held other leadership roles in the primary sector.

She believed dispute resolution was better valued today than when she first entered the field, and was a helpful process for farmers who became bogged down in problems related to finances and personal relationships.

‘‘Being a farmer, I have been able to bring that background into the role. I’ve also done the training and have learned from very skilled people.’’

A passion for farming as a young man on the family farm set Southlander Stuart Collie on his career path. He was made an Officer of the Order following a lifetime of service to Federated Farmers and local government.

Collie was vice-chairman and chairman of the arable section of Federated Farmers between 1981 and 1990, vicepresident of the federation from 1990 to 1996, and is a former chairman of Environment Southland.

During his time on the United Wheatgrowers electoral committee he was involved with the establishment of the Agrichemical Education Trust and the Grow Safe accreditation system to raise the standards of agricultural chemical use.

Melissa Jebson from Darfield has been awarded the Queen’s Service Medal for services to agriculture and the community.

She has been president of the Central Districts of the Royal Agricultural Society since 2016, is a member of the society’s national executive committee and has been involved with the Malvern Agricultural and Pastoral Show for 25 years, most recently as a health and safety officer.

Jebson is also a judge at national equestrian events including Horse of the Year.

She has previously been secretary of the Young Farmers in Christchurch and Mid-canterbury districts.