Kiwis set to inspire farmers

Wairarapa farmer Shane McManaway will next week host more than 100 of Australasia's leading agri-professionals at the 2013 Platinum Primary Producers' (PPP) Group annual conference in Australia, while Masterton's Catriona Williams will be one of the keynote speakers.

Mr McManaway came up with the idea of bringing together a number of agriculture industry leaders seven years ago at the kitchen bench on his Matarawa deer and beef farm. He said the idea was to create a forum where the farming issues of the day could be discussed openly and honestly and where experience and knowledge could be shared.

There were 20 attendees at the first conference in 2006. However the event has grown significantly since then with more than 100 people expected to attend this year.

Mr McManaway said the event was becoming one of the most popular Australasian rural events of the year.

"This event has gone from strength to strength. It is now regarded as a great networking function with the who's who of agriculture attending. It brings together a highly influential group of farmers, businessmen, politicians and key decision-makers from across the agricultural landscapes of both New Zealand and Australia.

"This creates a combined potential that can significantly make a difference to any Australasian agricultural debate."

Masterton resident and founder of the CatWalk Trust, Catriona Williams, will be guest speaker at the event's gala dinner and charity auction.

Mr McManaway said that the PPP Group Conference was all about "inspiration", being optimistic, accepting challenges and recognising opportunities.

"Catriona is, herself, an inspiration to us all. She's a former equestrian champion who has been in a wheelchair since 2002, following a devastating horse-riding accident," he said. "Yet she's planning on climbing five of Kathmandu's highest mountains later this year to raise money for spinal injury research."

Around half of the delegates will travel from New Zealand for the three-day event. Representatives will attend from the dairy, beef and sheep sectors.

Angus and Emily Crofoot of Castlepoint Station (2012 winners of the Wairarapa Sheep and Beef Business of the Year Award) and Pirinoa farmer Michael Warren, will also join the delegation. Other keynote speakers include Chris Kelly, CEO of Landcorp Ltd, Keith Cooper of Silver Fern Farms and representatives from Fonterra and the ANZ Bank.

The conference opens at Queensland's Parliament House, Brisbane, next Monday.