He's described as Johnny-on-the-spot when it comes to lending a helping hand in his community.
"William [Reid] never says no when a member of the community reaches out. It’s no small task running a farm and he takes it all in his stride alongside his many other commitments," his nominator wrote.
William was elected president of the Taieri Collie Club last year.
He attended the trials with his father from when he was "a wee kid".
"He’s always helped out there, I’ve carried on on, I suppose," William said.
As to competing at the trials?
"Not very often, I’ll have a crack if I need to — if no-one’s watching."
The club was reasonably strong and William was delighted to see some younger people "come out of the woodwork" over the past several years, something which he had encouraged.
Asked why he supported the club, which has been operating for 79 years, William said it was a "part of history" and a good tradition.
It was good to be able to offer the event every year, allowing an opportunity for triallists to put their skills to the test, while it was also a good chance for a catch-up.
Several years ago, William joined the Outram Rodeo Club. It was not so much about the competition aspect, but to help the club out at working bees and other events.
While he had no desire to climb on the back of a bucking bull or bronc, he admired those who showed off their skills in the arena. Like the dog trial club, it was about a great group of people and both clubs were quite social.
There was also a lot that could be learned from the older generation in those clubs.
"Going to something like that, you learn a heck of a lot just by turning up to working bees."
William was also on the committee for the fireworks display held at the rodeo club, another community fundraising event which would be held again in November.
The Reid family, of Traquair Station, near Outram, traces its Otago roots back to the region's early settlers.
William grew up on Traquair and, after leaving school and returning to the farm for about three years, he then went to Otago Polytechnic where he did a pre-trade automotive course before returning home again.
His father Charles and uncle James split the farming partnership in 2012 and he was there for a year before working on Glenshee Station in the Danseys Pass for a year.
He then spent time in Australia for seeding and harvests, before returning home permanently.
Traquair is a 3000ha sheep and beef property, which he now runs with brother Eddie, and it was the passion of working outside and looking after the land that was his driver.
"Having had it be in the family for so long, part of it is just to keep it going and keep caring for the area," he said.
William enjoyed employing young shepherds, saying it was rewarding to be able to "let them have a go" and see them grow and take on more responsibility.
His grandfather Ron, in the 1960s, fenced off and planted trees on marginal land which was unsafe or scrub-prone.
That was continued by his father and uncle, who also introduced fencing off waterways, and the next generation was continuing the work.
— Sally Rae
