Waiotahe dairy farmers Jared and Sue Watson are the supreme winners of the 2017 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Enthusiasm and passion for all aspects of their business, farming sustainably and doing the right thing by the environment were among the reasons judges awarded Jared and Sue the supreme title.

The couple, who milk 282 dairy cows on land which is prone to frequent flooding, were named supreme winners at the awards dinner at Mount Maunganui, last night where they and six other entrants were honoured for their environmental-friendly growing and farming practices.

The Watsons also won the Balance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award, LIC Dairy Farm Award and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Environment Award 2.

Overwhelmed at taking the supreme title, Jared says neither he nor Sue expected to win when they entered.

'Taking part in the awards has been a great journey. The judging process was a chance to look at our farm through other people's eyes and question what we are doing and how we do things

'You start to look at the little things and the beautiful things and how you can enhance them. It's about perception, especially from the front gate, working on beautifying things, to create a beautiful space – we (farmers) have got to change how people perceive us.”

Matt Nelson (far left) and Leighton Oats (far right), of BayGold which won the supreme award last year, with this year's winners Jared and Sue Watson.

Jared also thanked his parents Kent and Cherry Watson for their support. Sue and Jared are 50:50 sharemilkers on the farm which has been in the Watson family for four generations.

The Watson farm impressed the judges with the extensive and ongoing plantings carried out through the generations, for shade, riparian management, erosion control and beautification.

Sue and Jared were also commend for taking an invested and proactive interest in environmental issues, including joining with other landowners in the Waiotahe catchment to learn how best to manage their land.

Judges also commented on the fact that Jared and Sue work well together, using each other's strengths; 'Sue's analytical abilities and attention to the business aspect; Jared's ability on farm with livestock, pastures, and stewardship”.

Other winners announced at the dinner, attended by 160 guests were:

Richard Sisam, Bruce Sisam and Matthew Sisam of Sisam and Sons Ltd Whakatane, who manage the 4,600 ha mixed dairy, sheep, beef and forestry enterprise for the benefit of its shareholders, won the Waterforce Integrated Management Award and Massey University Innovation Award.

Brent Looney, Natasja Boon and farm manager Glen Penny of B A Looney Trust organic dairy farm at Edgecumbe, won the CB Norwood Distributors Ltd Agri-Business Management Award and the Hill Laboratories Harvest Award.

Allen Coaster of Mataiwhetu Farms, a 295 ha sheep and beef property in the Lower Kaimai Ranges, won the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Award and the Pukekauri Farms People in Agriculture Award.

Iain and Leanne Blackwood of Blackwood Orchard, who grow three variety of kiwifruit on their 17.74 ha orchard near Whakatane, won the Zespri Kiwifruit Orchard Award.

Brian and Jan Barton, who grow kiwifruit and avocados on their 3.86 ha Katikati orchard, won the Farm Stewardship Award in partnership with the QEII National Trust and the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust.

Suejane Brumby, Jason and Holley Perrin, who operate Brumby Farms, a 212 ha dairy farm south of Waihi, won the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Environment Award.

A field day, which is open to the public, will be held at Sue and Jared Watson's Waiotahe dairy farm on Tuesday, April 4, from 9.30am to 2pm.

For more information or to register your attendance email Bay of Plenty Regional BFEA Coordinator Kirsten Winter at: bop@bfea.org.nz

Bob Ogle of R&R Tractors with Brent Looney and Natasja Boon, organic dairy farmers of Edgecumbe, who won the CB Norwood Distributors Ltd Agri-Business Management Award.

Nick Roskrue of Massey University with Richard and Bruce Sisam of Sisam and Sons Ltd which won the Massey University Innovation Award.

Suejane Brumby, Jason and Holley Perrin, of Brumby Farms, Waihi who won the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Environment Award, with regional council chairman Doug Leeder.

Zespri chairman Peter McBride with Whakatane orchardists Iain and Leanne Blackwood of Blackwood Orchard, who won the Zespri Kiwifruit Orchard Award.

Brian and Jan Barton, kiwifruit and avocado orchardists of Katikati, who won the Farm Stewardship Award presented in partnership with QEII National Trust and the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, with Rob Fraser of the QEII Trust.

Allen Coaster of Mataiwhetu Farms, a 295 ha sheep and beef property in the Lower Kaimai Ranges, won the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Award and the Pukekauri Farms People in Agriculture Award, presented by Rick Burke and Jan Loney of Pukekauri Farms.