Zanda McDonald Award applications open for 2018

The 2017 Zanda McDonald Award winner Morgan Easton. Photo / Supplied

The search is on for talented young agri-leaders from New Zealand and Australia to apply for the 2018 Zanda McDonald Award.

The award is regarded as one of Australasia's most prestigious badges of honour for young leaders within the primary industry, and comes with a prize package of over $50,000.

Now in its fourth year, the award is run by the Platinum Primary Producers (PPP) Group - a network of over 130 of Australasia's most influential agri-business men and women.

It provides the winner direct access to the wealth of knowledge that exists within the group's membership. In addition, they receive an all-expenses paid overseas mentoring trip, a place on Rabobank's Farm Manager's or Executive Programme and $1,000 cash prize.

Shane McManaway, Chairman of the Platinum Primary Producers (PPP), says the award provides a fantastic opportunity for young agricultural leaders to further their career and their personal development.

"A key attraction for this award is the tailored mentoring package that the winner receives. The PPP members have an extraordinary amount of respect within the industry, and previous award winners have loved the fact that they can call on them for help, advice and guidance at any time."

Applications for next years' award are open to individuals 35 years or younger from Monday 3rd July. Entries close on Friday 1st September 2017.

The 2017 winner, announced earlier this year at the annual PPP conference in Melbourne, was Morgan Easton from the Waitaki Valley, NZ. Mr Easton and his wife Hayley, who have three young children, are sharemilking two properties in North Otago, milking a total of 1750 cows.

"Winning the award has been both a humbling and rewarding experience for me. The ability to tap into the expertise of PPP members has been invaluable. I now have a great network through the PPP members that I can call on for advice when I need it," he said.

Morgan is using the opportunity to tap into PPP members' expertise on how best to continue growing and thriving in his family business. He will soon embark on the Australian leg of his mentoring tour, where he will visit PPP members including the McDonald beef farming operation in North Queensland, which is run by the late Zanda McDonald's parents and wife Julie, and encompasses about 180,000 head of cattle.

Application forms for the award can be downloaded from the PPP Group website here.