Police confirmed Mr Allen died following an incident at his farm in Ashburton Forks on December 9, while Mr Drummond died after a short illness two days later at Ashburton Hospital on December 11.
Both men were widely admired for their work inside and outside of farming.
Mr Allen, 62, worked hard to support farmer rights and showcase farming as a former national board member of Federated Farmers.
During the heavy flooding event in 2021, his 300ha farm, and others around him, had soil, stock and fences washed away and were left with hefty cleanup bills.
He hosted then prime minister Jacinda Ardern at his property to show the extent of the damage and helped lead the call for government support.
Federated Farmers members were deeply saddened by his death, chief executive Terry Copeland said.
"Farmers have lost a real titan in terms of rural advocacy. Not only was Chris hugely knowledgeable on agriculture and environment issues, he was respected for his fairness, collegiality and open-mindedness."
His optimism, work ethic and friendliness were mentioned, among other qualities, he said.
Mr Allen was a Mid Canterbury Federated Farmers meat and wool chairman, then president, before joining the national board in 2014. In this role, he made his mark as a biodiversity and freshwater spokesman.
When a stakeholder-led Biodiversity Collaborative Group was set up in 2016 by the government, it was co-chaired by him and Forest & Bird’s Sally Gepp. The group’s 2018 report helped steer national policy on biodiversity.
Typical of his concern for fellow farmers was his decision to fly from his Christchurch home to Napier in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.
"As someone who had experienced serious flooding on his own farm, he wanted to offer fellow farmers support and his personal experience that times would be tough, but there was light at end of the tunnel," Mr Copeland said.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford said Mr Allen farmed to a high standard, was respected and a friend to many.
"Chris always had a line: ‘it needs to be sensible, practical and affordable’. That’s a line that still resonates with many boards or collaborative groups he has been a part of. I'll remember Chris for being a guy who took his advocacy for farmers seriously, but could always share a good laugh and a joke too. His passing is a great loss to the Feds family."
Foundation for Arable Research chairman Steven Bierema said everyone’s thoughts were with Mr Allen’s family.
Mr Drummond was another Federated Farmers leader as the Mid Canterbury president of its high country industry group.
Last May he was among hosts of the group’s field day, which centred on farmers showing they were not solely to blame for lowering water quality around the Ashburton Lakes district and the pressure they were under from red tape.
Straight to the point, he ripped into unwieldy rules including the exclusion of stock from rivers, lakes and other water bodies on extensively run high country properties.
"With the likes of here, our cattle get away up the heads of the valleys and what they are eating is brown-top and sweet vernel and tussock which has never ever seen any fertilisers. It’s effectively absorbed, and what they are s....... out is what the moas were s....... out years ago, and as organic as thousands of years ago."
He was the leaseholder, with partner Erin Cassie, of the high-country station Erewhon.
Erewhon is on 14,160ha at the top of Rangitata Gorge with between 90-100 cows spread out over 4050ha of this, and, according to Mr Drummond, their effect on waterways was "zilch".
The couple were champions of Clydesdale horses, a familiar sight at A & P Shows, and ran a large stud on the station, often using teams for cultivating work, wagon rides and to support the autumn muster.
On the stud’s Facebook page Ms Cassie let family and friends know of his untimely death.
"The heart of Erewhon, my wonderful husband and ... treasured dad Colin James Drummond, passed away December 11 after a brief but brutal illness.
"[A] massive shock and not sure how we proceed without this one in a million mountain of a man beside me. But I know how lucky I have been to ‘do’ life with a soul mate who completed me.
"Its been a wild ride but I take comfort that his ‘better to burn out than rust out’ mantra ensured his life was certainly no dress rehearsal."
A service to celebrate his life was held on December 17 at Erewhon.
Police did not release the cause of Mr Allen’s fatal accident, which appeared to be from being electrocuted while fixing a garage door.
"Police would like to extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones at this time," a spokesperson said.
His death has been referred to the coroner.
