Sarah's Country

11/09/2023

I've given up on political football to appease a retiring generation!

It's the massive political ideas of today that affect my generation of farmers with 20-30 seasons ahead of them.

In the leadup to the 2023 Election, I'm excited to join me ol' mate Andrew Thompson (The Rural Roundup) in the 'commentary box' to our Future Farmers' Finn Ross & Eve McCallum's moderating of New Zealand political parties' positions on key policy areas for the primary industries that affect farming into tomorrow.

LIVE STREAMED @ 1.30 pm FRIDAY 15th SEPTEMBER on the Future Farmers website or if you are in the Lincoln / Christchurch area make sure you come along to Lincoln University in the Stewart 1 - Stewart Auditorium.

FREE TICKETS HERE: https://events.humanitix.com/the-great-agri-debate

FEATURING:

- Damien O'Connor MP (Minister for Primary Industries)

- Nicola Grigg MP ( New Zealand National Party Associate Agriculture Spokesperson)

- Eugenie Sage MP (Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand MP)

- Mark Patterson For Taieri (New Zealand First)

- Mark Cameron - ACT List MP (ACT Agriculture Spokesperson)

- Manji (TOP - The Opportunities PartyLeader)

Federated Farmers Beef and Lamb New Zealand DairyNZ Farmers Weekly NZ Growing Future Farmers NZ Young Farmers

30/06/2023

Do you reckon the 'she'll be right' attitude is out of date?

These farmers are getting behind the new Farm Without Harm campaign we launched yesterday!

This is the first time the whole of the New Zealand rural community have come together to say we have had 'enough' of harm on farm - from death, injury to wellbeing we all have a role to play in calling out 'half arsed'.

Sarah is proud to support this mission as a board member of Safer Farms and campaign manager behind this initiative!

Stand together with us by signing the pledge online: www.farmwithoutharm.co.nz

15/06/2023

Chef-turn-broadcasters-turn-farmers are super passionate about bringing the connection to eaters about where their food comes from, but there's a unique skill in going down a wormhole on the topic of soil and communicating the benefits of it in a way that everyday people can understand.⁠
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Matthew Evans, renowned in Australia for his TV series 'Gourmet Farmer', was a chef by trade and then a restaurant reviewer for the likes of the Sydney Morning Herald before heading to their own farm in Tasmanian Fat Pig Farm to grow their own to find out why certain food tastes better.⁠
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He persisted when his publisher was unsure of his desire to not write yet another cookbook, but a hymn to the soil. His research for the book explains how healthy soil is connected to our human physiology's ability to instinctively know what food is more nutrient-dense, as it's naturally more flavoursome.⁠
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Sarah & Matthew catch up at a recent event at Greystone Wines to discuss how close technology is a way for consumers to be able to do the same thing through an app on their phone. Matthew explains this will be a game-changer for food purchasing based on what's both more pleasurable to eat and healthier. Could the time for New Zealand farmers & growers who focus on soil health be rewarded just around the corner?⁠
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Thanks to Eat New Zealand & Quorum Sense for hosting us!⁠
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To listen to the latest episode, head to www.sarahscountry.com/podcast

11/06/2023

Going to SIDE South Island Dairy Event - SIDE ?

Join us for drinks & nibbles on Tuesday 27th June, at 7 pm at The Langlands Hotel, for a Q & A with South Otago farmer, Mark Anderson.

Sarah & Mark will discuss how he's transitioned to once-a-day milking, all-grass wintering/bale grazing with taller rounds on diverse pastures and mixed species forage crops. Also, how NZ dairying can 'shift the script' a.k.a change the narrative around what we are doing in our environment and telling that story to our community and consumers.

Free event, food supplied, drinks extra - RSVP by 23rd June

https://www.sarahscountry.com/event-details/shifting-the-script-on-dairying-side

10/06/2023

🥰 S4 EP2: Growing your farming destiny ⁠

When it feels like farming & growing food for the future is just getting a bit too hard, listen to our panel's discussion on what excites them about New Zealand's farming future.

Recording this panel discussion over dinner was a dream come true and something I'm excited to do more of. Having this 'A' team debate with their diverse views on how we grow our farming destiny is a treat for your ears this week on Sarah's Country.

🎧️ LISTEN HERE: https://www.sarahscountry.com/podcast

See you all at Fieldays this week!!⁠
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Sez 💥 ⁠

Panel includes:

🔶 Hamish Gow - Global Value Chains, Lincoln University

🔶 Rhys Roberts - CEO, Align Farms

🔶 Gabi & Doug Micheal - Owners, Gladfield Malt

🔶 Mandy Bell - Chair, Deer Industry NZ & Wai Wanaka as well as NZFAP+ Farmer at Criffel Station

🔶 Tim Jones - B-Corp certified consultant, The Grow Good Guy

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09/06/2023

Will To Live is the chosen charity of Team Aorangi which if they win can donate a much-needed $5k to the charity - all you need to do is click on the link & vote for Team Aorangi to help!!

Also because we are new Methen residents, we will be backing Peter to take home the 55th FMG Young Farmer of the Year on 8th July!!!!

THE INAUGURAL FMG REGION-OFF! 💪

We're proud to have FMG as a principal sponsor of FMG Young Farmer of the Year for the eighth year running. 💚

This year, they're doing things a little differently! AgriKidsNZ, FMG Juniors and FMG Young Farmers Grand Finalists will team up for a regional rural showdown called the FMG Region-Off.

Teams will go head-to-head, earning points through challenges, your support, and winning the 2023 titles!

The prize? Provincial glory - and $5,000 for a local cause 👏

👉 To vote and go in the draw to win a $500 Prezzy Card, head to www.fmg.co.nz/campaigns/regionoff

07/06/2023

🍒 Food production without fossil fuel? ⁠
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Mike Casey is leading by example at Forest Lodge Orchard by controlling the carbon narrative for consumers who are tired of the off-setting conversation.⁠
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Kicking off Season 4 on these Kiwi ex-pats returned to Central Otago to grow New Zealand's first cherries 100% electric as well as create the certification to prove it.⁠
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Mike is a keynote speaker at the up-and-coming 19-20 June. Use the promo code SARAHSCOUNTRY for 10% off tickets.⁠
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Listen now on podcast: https://www.sarahscountry.com/podcast/episode/2d3c7264/controlling-the-carbon-narrative-with-mike-casey-new-zealand-zero

26/05/2023

Thanks, Agri-Women's Development Trust (AWDT) for having me at Generation Change - our next generation of women in the primary sector coming through is what excites me more than anything else! Generation Change is about inspiring our future change makers in food & fibre - young women in tertiary study or training, or the first couple of years of their career.

Friday 26th May is the last day to register! https://www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/generation-change-2/

25/05/2023

Sarah's Country is returning on 1st June and to celebrate Will & I want to host two farming couples to E Tipu IFAMA 2023 World Conference in Christchurch 19-20 June 2023.
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Will had his mind opened after attending his first E Tipu in 2021 and wants to encourage other farmers to come along. It's really an inspiring break-off farm! Features two days of mind-blowing talks, expert panels, special Q&As and actionable next steps from world leaders in food and fibre.⁠
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All you have to do to enter is email [email protected] why you've always wanted to go and how you can see this being beneficial for you & your farming partner at the moment. ⁠
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Includes dinner on Sunday 18th June with Sarah & Will in Christchurch and tickets to the Sarah's Country cocktail party on Monday 19th June to network with people from across the sector⁠ (Valued at over $1,000/per couple).
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PRIZE DRAWN 1st JUNE 2023!⁠
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Book your In-Person or Virtual tickets at etipu.boma.global ⁠
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Get 10% off ticket prices with the promo code SARAHSCOUNTRY. ⁠
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24/05/2023

Sarah's Country is returning on 1st June and to celebrate Sarah & her husband Will want to host two farming couples to E Tipu: The Boma Agri Summit to open our minds and have a great, inspiring break-off farm!

Will had his mind opened after attending his first E Tipu in 2021 and wants to encourage other farmers to come along.

All you have to do to enter is both tag your partner/husband and email [email protected] with why you've always wanted to go and how you can see this being beneficial for you & your farming partner at the moment.

Includes dinner on Sunday 18th June with Sarah & Will in Christchurch and tickets to the Sarah's Country cocktail party on Monday 19th June to network with people from across the sector.

PRIZE DRAWN 1st JUNE 2023!

Farmers get 50% off ticket prices if you want to go ahead and come along running 19-20 June in Ōtautahi Christchurch and virtually — features two days of mind-blowing talks, expert panels, special Q&As and actionable next steps from world leaders in food and fibre.

Book your In-Person or Virtual tickets at etipu.boma.global

11/05/2023

DID YOU KNOW: Five accidents involving children take place on farms every week in New Zealand.

That's a very scary statistic. Safer Farms are running an awesome online event in partnership with Federated Farmers on how we can make good calls for our kids!

REGISTER: https://bit.ly/GoodCallsforKids

FREE online event: Making Good Calls for Kids on Farm
Thursday 18 May 2023, 12-12.30pm

Statistics show that almost five accidents involving children take place on farms every week in New Zealand. This number is too high. Children are part of our farming DNA and we want them to play and come home safe.

Safer Farms is supporting and enabling farmers to make good calls when it comes to on-farm safety. So grab a cuppa or a sandwich and together, let’s discuss what’s working and what’s not. �Join us to hear how farmers are protecting their kids from harm on farm.

Hosted by our Chair, Lindy Nelson, with guest speakers:
- Becks Smith: Otago ​​beef & sheep farmer, and mum;
- Mark Ogilvie: Pamū Head of Health Safety & Wellbeing;
- Harriet Bremner Pinckney: farmer, health safety & wellbeing advocate, and children’s safety author.

REGISTER >> https://bit.ly/GoodCallsforKids

Together, let’s help our kids play safe.

Hosted with support from Federated Farmers

17/12/2022

When Wayne Langford called me with this idea, "I said mate thats in 6 weeks, your mad!"

That was this weeks Meat The Need NZ teleathon to raise one million meals to fill our nations food banks in one day!

With faith in a great team both event management & our production crew, we all dug deep and smashed the most incredibly moving and funny as hell day!
Wayne, Matt, Siobhan, Tyler, Vicki, Sarah, Sandra and crew, you guys were incredible to work with!

The most moving part of the whole experience for me was how our divided and battered agriculture sector was united for one day around something we all value. Food.

Merry Christmas,
Bring on 2023!
Sez 💗

Well over one million meals raised for Kiwis in need just in time for Christmas.