Two stages of judging have begun after entries for the inaugural Wairere Central Districts Red Meat Farm Business of the Year closed in late January.
While helping select and organise the two judging panels, competition co-ordinator Rob Stratton said he was happy not being one of the people making the decisions, as the contestant quality was really high.
"This competition is all about promoting the skill, professionalism of red meat farmers we have in the region while operating in a sustainable manner and all of the entrants have that in spades," Stratton said.
"The credibility of these competitions, however, often sits with the quality of the judges and we are lucky to have been able to put together a quality group of judges with practical farming expertise, a mix of professional experiences and in the case of one, knowledge of what it's like to compete and win a similar competition."
The judging panel for the first round comprises Ally Apthorp, a previous winner of the equivalent competition in the Tararua region, Taihape farmer and independent company director Mark Crystall, and rural business adviser, independent director and farmer Sean Stafford.
