Matthew and Rachel Hinkley win The Weekly Times Coles 2017 Farmer of the Year
VICTORIAN cropping farmers Matthew and Rachel Hinkley have been crowned The Weekly Times Coles 2017 Farmer of the Year.
VICTORIAN cropping farmers Matthew and Rachel Hinkley have been crowned The Weekly Times Coles 2017 Farmer of the Year.
Matthew and Rachel were tonight presented with their award at a gala event at RACV Club in Melbourne attended by Federal Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources David Littleproud, Victorian Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaala Pulford and industry leaders.
The Hinkleys, who farm on 1620 hectares Derrinallum in Victoria’s Western District, were recognised for their scientific and business approach to farming.
In just 13 years the couple has increased the size of their operation by 400 per cent and lifted returns on assets to 10 per cent.
The Weekly Times Editor Natalee Ward said the Hinkleys were worthy winners of the award.
“In an industry dominated by scale, Matthew and Rachel Hinkley punch well above their weight,” Ms Ward said.
“It’s their attention to detail and their constant quest for perfection that stood them out from what was a crowded field of exceptional farmers.”
Ms Ward said it was this sharp focus on the details that characterised many of tonight’s winners.
“All six finalists really do show what it takes to thrive in modern farming,” she said.
“Whether it was farming cattle on 6500 hectares in central NSW to growing saffron on half a hectare in Tasmania, these farmers are all outstanding leaders in their field, highly attuned to all facets of the supply chain in food or fibre production, and show the future of farming is in good hands.”
The other category winners were:
Cropping: Matthew and Rachel Hinkley, Hinkley Farming, Derrinallum, Vic
Beef: James and Robert Millner, Rosedale Charolais, Blayney, NSW
Dairy: Dehne and Sarah Vinnicombe, Calivil, Vic
Horticulture: Schiffke and Stothart families, Taste ’N See, Bellmere, Qld
Sheep: Jock and Olivia Nivison, Yalgoo Genetics, Walcha, NSW
FARM magazine Innovative Farmer of the Year: Nicky, Terry and Patrick Noonan, Tasmanian Saffron, Glaziers Bay, Tas
• Read more about Matthew and Rachel Hinkley and the other winners and finalists in the special The Weekly Times Coles Farmer of the Year magazine, free in next week’s The Weekly Times.
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