How to grow a growing business
How to grow a growing business
SIMON AND TRUDI WEBB, Orchardists, Otago
RURAL CHAMPIONS 2025 - NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!
For the third consecutive year, Rural Champions is back, celebrating the unsung heroes of our rural communities. These are the people who go above and beyond—whether through innovation, leadership, environmental stewardship, or community spirit—to make a lasting impact.
Nominate a Rural Champion Today
Do you know someone who deserves recognition? We’re calling on you to help shine a spotlight on the individuals making a real difference in the rural South Island.
🏆 Categories:
Farmer/Grower
Rural Service provider
Why Nominate?
Your nominee could be in to win! We have $20,000 worth of prizes to be won - plus the chance be featured in the Otago Daily Times and our regional papers, sharing their inspiring story with the wider community. Finalists will also have the chance to be named our Rural Champion of the Year or take home the People’s Choice Award!
How to Enter
📅 Nominations close: May 27 2025
📍 Submit your nomination online below and tell us why your nominee is a true Rural Champion.
Join us in celebrating the backbone of our rural communities. Nominate today!
Rural Champions Partnership Information
Find out how to become a Rural Champions Sponsor!
Read about our 2024 Rural Champions
Solar farm a massive undertaking
Solar farm a massive undertaking
HAMISH HILLS, Dairy farmer, Tasman
Mum ‘deserves all the kudos’ for farm
Mum ‘deserves all the kudos’ for farm
NATALIE CAMERON, Sheep and beef farmer, Southland
‘Huge’ community involvement noted
‘Huge’ community involvement noted
NICK AND ALEXIS WADWORTH, Sheep and beef farmers, Southland
Vocational workforce training a passion
Vocational workforce training a passion
JOCK AND PIP FOSTER, Sheep and beef farmers, Canterbury
Beekeeper harnessing the power of ADHD
Beekeeper harnessing the power of ADHD
STEVEN BROWN, Apiarist, Canterbury
Couple setting others up for success
Couple setting others up for success
HANNES AND LYZANNE DU PLESSIS, Dairy farmers, Southland
Sights set on a veterinary practice
Sights set on a veterinary practice
IROSHANA KULATHUNGA, Dairy farmer, Southland
Pair ‘keep it real’ in showing challenges
Pair ‘keep it real’ in showing challenges
STEVE AND TRACY HENDERSON, Dairy farmers, Southland
Making himself heard for the sake of others
Making himself heard for the sake of others
SIMON DAVIES, Sheep and beef farmer, Otago
Love of outdoors led to life on farms
Love of outdoors led to life on farms
RUTH STEELE, Farm worker, Southland
Through highs and lows
Through highs and lows
RON ALDERTON, Sheep farmer, Otago
Rural Service Providers
Team work key to managerial success
Team work key to managerial success
BRONWYN CAIRNS, Meat plant manager, Otago (although lives in Southland)
Much more than just a veterinarian
Much more than just a veterinarian
AMY WATTS, Veterinarian, Otago
Growing connections, opportunities to help farmers
Growing connections, opportunities to help farmers
DAVID ECKHOFF, Technical field officer, Otago
Agri managing role all about people
Agri managing role all about people
BLAIR FIELDES, Banker, Otago
Helping out farmers where they can
Helping out farmers where they can
ROCKY CORMACK and JANELLE DAVIDSON, Farm support business, Southland
Pair providing venison for those in need
Pair providing venison for those in need
ADAM KREISEL AND STEVE HILL, Hunters4Hope charity, Canterbury
Going above and beyond for clients
Going above and beyond for clients
SCOTT MCILROY, Agronomy specialist, Canterbury
Linking ‘people and places to nature’
Linking ‘people and places to nature’
GLEN RILEY, Conservationist, Otago
Accidental business cutting waste
Accidental business cutting waste
GREG AND DANSY COPPELL, Fence-post suppliers, Tasman
Rolling up his sleeves to help others
Rolling up his sleeves to help others
JIMMY JOHNSTONE, Accountant, Otago
Working to better rural mental health
Working to better rural mental health
KATHRYN WRIGHT, Rural mental health counsellor and researcher, Southland
Following father’s lead in navigating farm complexities
Following father’s lead in navigating farm complexities
JOSH BROWN, Environmental consultant, Canterbury
Excited to be home, ready to help
Excited to be home, ready to help
She may have travelled and worked around the world but there’s no place like home for Lutte Thys.
Going the extra mile for livestock, sports and children
Going the extra mile for livestock, sports and children
KATRINA SIMPSON, Livestock representative, West Coast
Dunedin man big on keeping on top of mental health
Dunedin man big on keeping on top of mental health
For Dunedin’s Kieran Fowler, physical activity has helped improve his mental health and he encourages anyone else who might be struggling to try it.
Fitness studio aims to connect people
Fitness studio aims to connect people
BLAIR AND JESS YOUNG, Fitness studio owners, Otago
Fight against Tb ‘hugely satisfying’
Fight against Tb ‘hugely satisfying’
PHILLIP HUNT, Sheep and beef farmer, Otago
Sisters thriving on family farm
Sisters thriving on family farm
MEGAN AND LAURA WHYTE, Sheep, beef and cropping farmers, Southland
Leadership role in floriculture industry
Leadership role in floriculture industry
JO ROBINSON, Flower grower, Otago
Humble nominee needed to be urged
Humble nominee needed to be urged
BRIDGET MCNALLY, Dairy farmer, Otago
Couple inspired by Christian faith
Couple inspired by Christian faith
PAUL AND TRACI PATON, Sheep and beef farmers, Otago
Reaching the world from the farm
Reaching the world from the farm
ALISTAIR BIRD, Sheep and beef farmer, Canterbury
Resilience a way of life
Resilience a way of life
JACK AND KATE COCKS, Sheep and beef farmers, Lake Wakatipu
Duntroon woman a community stalwart
Duntroon woman a community stalwart
JAN KEELING, Dairy farmer, Otago
Enabling positive change the goal
Enabling positive change the goal
EMMA CRUTCHLEY, Sheep and beef farmer, Otago
‘Town girl’ fierce backer of rural sector
‘Town girl’ fierce backer of rural sector
SIOBHAN O’MALLEY, Dairy farmer, West Coast
At the market hail or shine
At the market hail or shine
JEFFREY AND ANDREA BRUCE, Strawberry and vegetable growers, South Canterbury