Farm Tender

Australian Cotton Industry awards finalists announced

Cotton growers, researchers and industry members from cotton-growing regions across NSW and Queensland are amongst the finalists for this year’s Australian Cotton Industry Awards.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay says the finalists were selected based on their contributions to the cotton industry across a wide range of areas, including farming best practice, research and development, innovation, leadership and industry advocacy.

The finalists are:

Monsanto Grower of the Year and AgriRisk High Achiever of the Year
    * Glen and Narelle Whittaker - ‘Wingfield’, Warren, NSW
    * Peter Lennox for Morcott Pty Ltd - ‘Battery Hill’, Gunnedah, NSW
    * Brett Corish, Corish Management Pty Ltd - ‘Mundine’, Goondiwindi, Qld
    * Greg and Maryann Bender, Burradoo Enterprises Pty Ltd - ‘Burradoo Plains’ Chinchilla, Qld


ADAMA Chris Lehmann Trust Young Cotton Achiever of the Year
    * Sam Simons, Agromax Consulting - Gunnedah, NSW
    * William Back, Auscott Ltd (Namoi Valley) - Narrabri, NSW
    * Jake Cutcliffe, Auscott Ltd (Gwydir Valley) - Moree, NSW


Cotton Seed Distributors Researcher of the Year
    * Robert Eveleigh (formerly Cotton Seed Distributors Ltd) - Wee Waa, NSW
    * Dr Joseph Foley, Dr Malcolm Gillies and Dr Alison McCarthy, University of Southern Queensland - Toowoomba, QLD
    * Dr Kristen Knight, Monsanto - Toowoomba, QLD

Mr Kay says each of the finalists had made outstanding contributions to the industry, and deserved recognition.

“The nominees for this year’s Awards program was of a very high standard,” Mr Kay says.

“This group of people represent the strengths of our industry - innovation, dedication, the sharing of ideas and the drive to figure out a way to do things better. Without people such as these, the cotton industry would not be where it is today.”

“The annual Awards program is important to our industry because it allows us to recognise excellence and hard work, foster future growth and improvement across the industry,” Mr Kay says.

The Awards judging panel has travelled to the finalists’ originating regions to meet and assess each of the candidates.

Cash prizes are on offer for the winners across all categories, with an additional research bursary for Researcher of the Year.

The recipients for the 2018 Australian Cotton Industry Awards will be announced at a gala event to be held on the Gold Coast on August 9. It is held in conjunction with the 2018 Australian Cotton Conference.

For more information on the Awards, go to: www.australiancottonawards.com