Katikati drystock farmers Rick Burke and Jan Loney of Pukekauri Farms are among 10 national contenders for the prestigious Gordon Stephenson sustainability trophy.

The supreme winners of the 2014 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards will represent the region on June 26 at the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust's National Sustainability Showcase in Christchurch.

Supreme winners of the 2014 Bay of Plenty Ballance Farm Environment Awards Rick Burke & Jan Loney are now competing for the prestigious Gordon Stephenson sustainability trophy.

Leading up to that event, the couple's farm has been visited by judges Jamie Strang and Warwick Catto, who have also assessed the other nine finalists.

New Zealand Farm Environment Trust acting chair and chair of the national winner judging panel Simon Saunders says judges have been blown away by the calibre of this year's finalists.

'The judging panel is going to have a tough job picking a winner because all the finalists are doing a fantastic job in terms of their farming skills and their approach to sustainability.”

Rick and Jan are up against other regional supreme winners Roger and Jane Hutchings of Northland, Mike and Sharon Barton of Waikato, Rob and Sandra Faulkner and Bruce and Jo Graham of East Coast, Gavin and Oliver Faull and Tony and Loie Penwarden of Taranaki, Justin and Mary Vennell of Horizons, Matt and Lynley Wyeth of Greater Wellington, Mark and Devon Slee of Canterbury, Wayne McIntosh of Otago, and Andrew and Heather Tripp of Southland.

In Christchurch next week, entrants will undergo a 30-minute interview in front of the national judging panel when they will be asked to comment on New Zealand agriculture and its position in the international marketplace. They will also outline their values and strategies relating to their farm, leadership, urban and rural relationships and future threats and opportunities for NZ agriculture.

Simon says the supreme winners relish the opportunity to socialise in the two to three days leading up to the showcase.

'They enjoy being able to present their farming operations to the other Supreme winners and hearing about what other supreme winners are doing on their farms. They also get the chance to meet other leaders from all walks of the industry.”

About 300 guests are expected to attend the national sustainability showcase dinner at Rydges Hotel, Christchurch where Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy will announce the winner on June 26.

Retiring waterways and wetlands on Pukekauri Farms is a sustainability measure which impressed judges.