Merino excellence awards presented

It has been a stellar year for the Paterson family from Gimmerburn. Allan and Eris Paterson, and their son Simon and his wife Sarah, won the clip of the year title, which was presented during the Otago Merino Association's Merino Excellence Awards in Queenstown on Friday night. It was the second consecutive year the family has won the title and it followed what Allan Paterson described as an "absolutely phenomenal" year, not only with their achievements, but also the season and prices. The Armidale merino stud was founded by Allan Paterson's grandfather George and, after lapsing during World War 2, it was later resurrected by his father Bruce and is now run by Allan and Simon. They won the most successful merino exhibitor at the Canterbury A and P Show last November and, last month, achieved a rare double, winning both the fine wool and the strong wool championship in the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand's national Golden Fleece competition...

Otago Daily Times
Mon, 20 Jun 2011
By Sally Rae
News: Farming

View full artic/e here: www.odt.co.nz/merino-excellence-awards-presented

It has been a stellar year for the Paterson family from Gimmerburn. Allan and Eris Paterson, and their son Simon and his wife Sarah, won the clip of the year title, which was presented during the Otago Merino Association's Merino Excellence Awards in Queenstown on Friday night.
It was the second consecutive year the family has won the title and it followed what Allan Paterson described as an "absolutely phenomenal" year, not only with their achievements, but also the season and prices.

The Armidale merino stud was founded by Allan Paterson's grandfather George and, after lapsing during World War 2, it was later resurrected by his father Bruce and is now run by Allan and Simon.

They won the most successful merino exhibitor at the Canterbury A and P Show last November and, last month, achieved a rare double, winning both the fine wool and the strong wool championship in the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand's national Golden Fleece competition.

The Patersons run 3800 merino ewes, which include a 1000-strong stud flock, and 800 halfbred ewes on the 2000ha Maniototo property, as well as trading cattle.

Association chairman Tony Richards views some of the entries in the Child Cancer Foundation fleece competition. Photos by Sally Rae.Allan Paterson attributed the success to having parents that "taught us well", along with the need to have passion and drive.
Lauder Station, farmed by the Calder family, was the winner of the Child Cancer Foundation fleece competition, while Richard and Jemma Gloag, from Buscot Station, at Omarama, won the merino production competition.

Otago Merino Association chairman Tony Richards described the 21st awards as "quite a milestone" for the association.

The fleeces entered in the Child Cancer Foundation competition constituted "the best wool you will ever see anywhere", and the number entered - more than 140 - showed the generosity of growers towards a very worthwhile cause. The sale of last year's entries, along with an auction, raised $10,345.

It was a good time to be in the farming industry, meat and wool returns being the best for a long time, and recent weather had also been very kind. Times ahead looked to be exciting and rewarding, Mr Richards said.

He and his wife Barbara farm a 4200ha property at Hyde, running merinos, a small crossbred flock and beef breeding cows.

He was brought up on a stud sheep farm at Waimate, which he later took over before selling in 1996. They spent five years at Culverden in North Canterbury, before moving to Hyde.

Mr Richards loved merino sheep, laughingly saying there were merinos and then there were "other sheep".

The merino excellence awards were a highlight of the year. Not only was it a social gathering for growers, but it was also an opportunity to raise money for the Child Cancer Foundation.

Foundation spokeswoman Clare Wilkinson said the association's long involvement with the foundation was "fantastic".

It had been a particularly bad year, with the Christchurch earthquake, and opportunities to raise funds had been diminished, yet the needs of families affected by cancer were so great.

Taking a keen interest in the entries were Brent Hickey, from Omakau, and Stuart Botting, from Dunedin, both of whom have had a long involvement in the wool industry.

W.S. Hickey and Sons was established by Mr Hickey's father, Bill, 55 years ago and was one of the more long-standing private wool businesses operating in New Zealand. His son, Hayden, will take over in October.