The executive structure of Wairarapa Federated Farmers was given a shakeup at the recent annual general meeting.
The rearrangement comes after former meat and wool chair Mike Butterick told the Times-Age ahead of the meeting that he would be standing down from the position because he is contesting the region’s electorate seat as the National Party candidate.
“The formal process is that I will be stepping down at the meeting.”
“I have been very mindful that Federated Farmers is – and needs to stay – apolitical. Since I’ve been selected, I’ve made sure I have made a very clear line between the Federated Farmers stuff and the National Party stuff.”
Meanwhile, long-time Wairarapa Federated Farmers president David Hayes [pictured] confirmed to the Times-Age that he will remain as president for another year but is planning to work with a successor.
“We’re really focused on good succession planning and giving leaders an opportunity to step up,” he said.
Kate Wyeth has taken the vice-president role, and Hayes said it is “fantastic” to have her step up into the role: “She’s a great leader”.
Hayes said he is also excited about the new executive structure: “We’ve got some new legs – one is meat and wool, and the other one is dairy.”
The new executive structure is as follows.
President – David Hayes;
Vice-President – Kate Wyeth;
Meat and Wool Chair – Richard Fairbrother;
Dairy Chair – Alice Gysbertsen;
Finance – Robyn Cornford;
Secretary – Mike Taylor;
Executive – Sarah Crofoot, Robert Hickson, Anders Crofoot, William Beetham, Joanne Denton, and Hamish Carrad.
The Arable Chair role was not filled at the AGM.
