Erin McIlmurray Appointed Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards Chair

Congratulations to Erin McIlmurray, our Market Sector Manager - Agriculture, who has recently been appointed Chair of the Waikato Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA). 

Reflecting on her new role, Erin says one of the most rewarding parts of being involved with the Awards is hearing the stories behind successful farming and growing operations. "The stories that come out of each season are remarkable, and I'd love to see them reach a wider audience, not just within the ag sector. There's real value in helping people better understand the care and innovation happening on-farm across the country." 

When asked what motivated her to get involved beyond her day-to-day role she said, “I jumped at the chance to get involved. I love hearing how farmers and growers are navigating challenges and turning them into opportunities. These Awards celebrate people doing extraordinary things, often quietly, and create a really valuable space for connection and learning.” 

She also highlights the strong community spirit evident across many rural areas, where farmers and growers are increasingly coming together to support environmental initiatives and share knowledge. 

As a business, Hill Labs has proudly supported the Ballance Farm Environment Awards since 2003.  Through the Hill Labs Agri-Science Award, we celebrate entrants who use science, monitoring, and data-driven decision making to improve productivity while minimising environmental impact. 

We are proud to support Erin in this new leadership role and wish her every success as she leads the Waikato programme and continues to promote the important role science plays in supporting sustainable farming in New Zealand.