North Canterbury pig farmer Steve Sterne has won NZPork’s Outstanding Contribution Award, recognising his 27 years of dedication to excellence in the sector.

Sterne and his daughter Holly run Patoa Farms at Hawarden, New Zealand’s largest pig farming operation.

He bought the land bordering the Hurunui River with co-founder Jens Ravn in 1998.

Following Ravn’s retirement in 2013, Sterne continued to farm with a management team in place.

Patoa sows roam free range with small straw-based shelters in large paddocks for farrowing.

Pigs being finished for market are housed in large eco-barns with deep litter straw.

The system enables the farm to produce around 95,000 pigs annually, allowing for the used straw bedding and manure to be recycled and distributed to other farms throughout the Canterbury region.

Composted manure is used on the farm’s cropping land or sold to other farmers.

NZPork chief executive Brent Kleiss said Sterne’s pursuit of excellence, quality, sustainability and pig welfare was second to none.

“The Patoa Farms operation is the epitome of the circular economy,” Kleiss said.

“Steve is also passionate about the farm, contributing to the local community and encouraging and educating the next generation of skilled workers for the sector.”

Patoa Farms at Hawarden is New Zealand’s largest pig farming operation.

Patoa employed over 50 people and contributed around $4 million in wages to the local economy, Kleiss said.

“It is also an approved provider of the Primary ITO New Zealand Certificate in Pork Production for levels 3 and 4.”

Sterne was presented with the award at NZPork’s annual conference in Christchurch on July 29.

Delegates at the conference also expressed their thanks to former MP and Southland farmer Eric Roy, who stepped down last week as chair of NZPork, having taken on the role in 2019.