Producer of the Decade Robert Gardyne (left) accepts his award with family members, Rosemary, Cherlyn, Grant and Teri. Photo / Supplied
Producer of the Decade Robert Gardyne (left) accepts his award with family members, Rosemary, Cherlyn, Grant and Teri. Photo / Supplied
The producer of New Zealand's most consistently tender and tasty lamb in the last 10 years was announced last Friday at the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Golden Lamb Awards, aka the Glammies.
For the past 10 years, the Glammies competition has sought out the country's top lamb based on a scientific assessment and then taste. This year, the results from the past decade were collated to determine Robert Gardyne from Oturehua, Central Otago as the Producer of the Decade.
Having been a finalist in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and the 2016 Grand Champion, Gardyne is no stranger to success. He has farmed for 52 years and believes his success is down to experience and practice.
"Consumers are now much more interested in the food they eat and where it comes from. Reflecting on the past decade, a lot of effort has been put into the management and genetic makeup of the animal to fine-tune the lamb we produce. Gaining an award like this is a huge thrill and gives me confidence in what is to come," says Gardyne.
Following an independent assessment for yield, tenderness, succulence and colour the top 20 finalists were found and sent to be judged by Beef and Lamb New Zealand Ambassador Chefs in the Grand Final at the Wanaka A&P Show.
Forbes & Angus Cameron from Ashhurst, with their Growbulk processed at Alliance Dannevirke, outshone the 166 entrants in the 2017 competition and were announced as the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Golden Lamb Awards 2017 Grand Champion. This is a remarkable achievement for Forbes & Angus Cameron who also won the beef equivalent competition, the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Steak of Origin, in 2015.
Beef + Lamb NZ Chairman James Parsons (left) Iron Maiden Sarah Walker, 2017 Grand Champion Christine and Forbes Cameron with Beef + Lamb CEO Sam McIvor. Photo / Supplied
Beef + Lamb New Zealand CEO, Sam McIvor sees the Glammies competition as a platform to showcase the country's farmers who produce the best lamb in the world.
"Our industry has made dramatic progress over the last 20 years with higher lambing percentages - up 25 percent, an increase of 93 per cent of lamb weight sold per ewe wintered and it's been done on 2 million less hectares. And even though sheep numbers have gone from 70 million to 30 million, we're still selling similar amounts of sheepmeat through increased productivity."
"This competition recognises the quality aspects that are so important to the customer. The excellent results are a reflection of the work that farmers, processors, and scientists have put into driving these aspects of lamb production," says McIvor.
Adding to the day's celebrations, Matt & Lynley Wyeth from Masterton were awarded the 2017 People's Choice Award and Countdown Supermarkets took out the title of Glammies 2017 Retail Winner.
Four of our nation's top athletes and Beef + Lamb New Zealand Iron Maidens Lisa Carrington, Sarah Walker, Sophie Pascoe and Caroline Meyer (nee Evers-Swindell) were at the competition to pay tribute to New Zealand sheep farmers.
Judges at the 2017 Glammies. Photo / Supplied
2017 BEEF + LAMB NEW ZEALAND GOLDEN LAMB AWARDS RESULTS:
PRODUCER OF THE DECADE (2007 - 2017): Robert Gardyne, Oturehua
2017 GRAND CHAMPION: Forbes & Angus Cameron, Ashhurst (Growbulk)
PROCESSOR OF THE GRAND CHAMPION: Alliance Dannevirke
2017 RETAIL WINNER: Countdown Supermarkets (South Suffolk/Romney from Ruakiwi, Kaikohe)
2017 PEOPLE'S CHOICE: Matt & Lynley Wyeth, Masterton (Highlander/Primera), processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau
CLASS 1 // BEST OF BREED: TRADITIONAL Gold: Hamish Mackay, Gore (Romney), processed at Alliance Lorneville Silver: Robert Gardyne, Oturehua (Perendale), processed at Alliance Lorneville Bronze: Paul, Rachel, Mark & Louise Heslip, Dipton (Perendale/Romney), processed at Alliance Lorneville Highly Commended: Don Morrison, Gore (Romney), processed at Alliance Lorneville
CLASS 2 // BEST OF BREED: CROSSBREED Gold: Roger, Alison & Jeremy Thomas, Tuatapere (Perendale/Texel), processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane Silver: Charles Crutchley, Ranfurly (Texel/Perendale/Romney), processed at Oamaru Meats Bronze: Hayden Peter, Wyndham (Greeline), processed at Alliance Lorneville Highly Commended: Jane Leogreen, Dannevirke (Texel/Perendale/Romney), processed at Alliance Dannevirke
CLASS 3 // BEST OF BREED: TERMINAL CROSS Gold: Don Morrison, Gore (Growbulk/Charollais), processed at Alliance Lorneville Silver: Matt & Lynley Wyeth, Masterton (Highlander/Primera), processed at Silver Fern Farms Takapau Bronze: Gary Fordyce, Gore (Composite/Texel X), processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane Highly Commended: Allan Paterson, Otautau (CoopTexel/Texel), processed at Alliance Lorneville
CLASS 4 // BEST OF BREED: OPEN Gold: Peter Sim & Maree Whiteley, Garston (Textra), processed at Silver Fern Farms Waitane Silver: Forbes & Angus Cameron, Ashhurst (Growbulk), processed at Alliance Dannevirke Bronze: Doug Brown, Oamaru (Poll Dorset/Texel), processed at Alliance Smithfield Highly Commended: Robert Gardyne, Oturehua (Perendale/Suffolk/Texel), processed at Alliance Lorneville
CLASS 5 // RETAIL Gold: Countdown Supermarkets (South Suffolk/Romney from Ruakiwi, Kaikohe) Silver: Pure South, Alliance Meats (Romney/Texel from JW, JC & JR Clark, Milton) Bronze: Countdown Supermarkets (Southdown/Texel/Romney from DI Cathcart, Huntly) Highly Commended: Lifestyle Meats (Texel Perendale from Ohakune)
