Congratulations go to Otago sheep and beef farmers Blair and Jane Smith for winning the national title in the 2012 Ballance Farm Environmental Awards earlier this week.

The Smiths were awarded the Gordon Stephenson Trophy, having been chosen from nine regional supreme winners.

The award is sponsored by Beef and Lamb NZ Ltd (B+LNZ) because of its focus on showcasing farmers working sustainably and caring for the environment, says B+LNZ chief executive Scott Champion.

“This is the second year in a row that sheep and beef farmers have won the national trophy – Grant and Bernie Weller of Southland won it last year and undertook a B+LNZ-supported visit to Europe where they met industry representatives in key markets and had the opportunity to share their farming practices.

“We will be working with Blair and Jane Smith in the months ahead to ensure their great story of farming in an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable way is heard both within and beyond the sector,” says Champion.

Read more about the Smiths and their award here.