Wallendbeen man Chris Hall has been named as the 2019 NSW Farmer of the Year.
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Mr Hall is a third-generation mixed enterprise farmer specialising in growing and packing export-quality cherries as well as cross-breed sheep, Angus cattle, cereal and mixed species cover crops.
He is a self-described environmentalist and innovator and his ethos is to partner with nature rather than controlling it, an approach he says has now enabled him to farm pesticide and herbicide-free for more than two years.
The award named Mr Hall's other key achievements have been fencing off waterways to improve water running through the property and mass planting of various native trees.
He said his holistic practices are reaping results with significant increases in yield as well as in soil quality, water retention and evaporation loss.
Mr Hall told The Daily Advertiser that he found his win "humbling".
"I don't usually like making speeches, but I guess I'll have to make a few more now," he said.
Mr Hall's farming efforts have already been recognised, with him receiving the 2019 National Carbon Cocky Award for demonstrated improvement in carbon management in horticulture or viticulture.
Mr Hall has a degree in horticultural science and has regularly hosted on-farm experiences for high school agriculture students and their teachers for more than 15 years.
