Apr 10, 2026
For a second year in a row at the Southland Ballance Farm Environment Awards, a deer farming family has taken out top honours with Top Deck Trading (Tony, Michelle and Kate Roberts and Mark Lieshout) being crowned this year’s Southland Regional Supreme Winners.
In 2025 fellow deer farmers Cam Nelson and Christin Vaughan won the same award.
The award evening was held on 1 April and featured four finalists (covering dairying, dairy grazing, sheep, beef and deer) - all with stunning looking farms and impressive production and environmental management.
Early in the evening the signs were promising with the Roberts collecting a swag of “minor” awards: The Hill Labs Agri-Science Award, Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award, FMG Risk Management Award, and WaterForce Safe Water Recognition Award. While other finalists also performed well it wasn’t a total surprise when the family was announced as the Regional Supreme winners.
The Roberts are active members of the Southland Environment Group (as are Cam and Christina) and of course Tony is the current Chair of the Southland Branch. They often host visits from other deer farmers and advance parties with a big drawcard being their impressive winter barns and winter grazing management.
The Roberts now go on to the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust's National Showcase in Christchurch on 2 July, where regional supreme winners from across the country will compete for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy and the title of 2026 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing.
Congratulations Top Deck Trading! A well-deserved award.
Photos: Alicia Keown Photography
