They would not be possible without the support of the dedicated award sponsors. A massive thank you to Ravensdown, Ballance, Graymont and Keith Andrews for your continued support in celebrating the shining stars in our industry.
Leadership doesn’t always come with noise. Sometimes, it comes with quiet consistency, unwavering values, and a commitment to making the industry better—one practical step at a time. Nick Hyslop, this year’s recipient of the Ballance Agri-Nutrients President’s Award, exemplifies this kind of leadership. As he prepares to step back the groundspread industry, the association recognises a career built on service, collaboration, and purpose.
Nick’s contribution to the groundspreading sector is rooted in a deep family legacy, stretching back to his father and grandfather. But his influence is uniquely his own. Whether chairing meetings, contributing to policy, or mentoring others, Nick has consistently acted in the best interest of the industry—never his own agenda.
As a long-serving member of both the Groundspread NZ Council and the Canterbury Branch, Nick has shaped discussions, policies, and pathways forward. His peers describe him as someone who listens carefully, speaks with intent, and shows up even when the work is hard or thankless. That consistency has made him a backbone of the association—and a role model for many.
One of Nick’s most transformative contributions was his leadership in revising and modernising the Spreadmark Code of Practice. Over several years, he worked behind the scenes to ensure the new code became more than a compliance document—it became a practical, purpose-driven framework for better fertiliser application.
Nick’s clear thinking, balanced view, and ability to dig into root causes also made him a strong advocate for industry-wide training, especially for drivers. He saw that capability, safety, and retention were interconnected—and pushed for solutions that acknowledged the realities of both small operators and national systems.
Nick never needed a title to lead. His influence is felt in the processes he’s improved, the trust he’s built, and the culture he’s helped shape. He leads with integrity, humility, and intent—and those who’ve worked alongside him know just how rare that combination can be.
Jonny Reay, representing Ballance Agri-Nutrients at the Gala, spoke of Nick’s unique energy during the award presentation:
“If you see Nick running, try to keep up.”
The room laughed but also nodded. Because when Nick moves, it means the opportunity is real, and the urgency matters.
That quote has since become a reflection of how Nick operates—decisive, values-based, and always with an eye on better outcomes for the industry as a whole.
Nick’s legacy isn’t something that ends with an award or a farewell. It lives on in the new owners of Focus Spreading, the family business he’s helping transition with care. It lives on in the Spreadmark code, in the improved training systems, and in the belief—now widely shared—that we can lead with both excellence and humility.
Perhaps most powerfully, Nick’s legacy is in the motivation he leaves behind. As he steps back, he asks us to stay focused on:
Nick doesn’t dwell on legacy, but his contribution has changed the shape of our industry. His parting challenge is not complex—it’s simply this: keep going. Keep asking better questions. Keep striving for clarity. Keep showing up for each other, because that’s what makes this industry strong.
Congratulations, Nick. Your impact has been immense—and your legacy will carry forward in everyone who was lucky enough to work alongside you.
Ballance is a New Zealand farmer-owned co-operative that helps its customers to farm more productively, profitably and sustainably. From its core business of fertiliser manufacturing, supply, sales, and advice, Ballance has grown to offer farmers a full range of science-backed nutrient products and services. This enables us to help farmers achieve soil and animal nutrition and productivity with a minimal environmental footprint. Ballance’s agri-nutrient advice is complemented by award-winning web-based farm systems software. With strong emphasis on quality and professionalism, Ballance is proud to be the sponsor of the prestigious President’s Award.
The Ravensdown Young Achiever’s Award celebrates emerging leaders who show exceptional potential to drive the industry forward. This year’s winner, Emma Johnstone of RoseAg Ltd, stood out for her authenticity, vision, and values-led leadership.
From the outset, Emma impressed the judges with her blend of technical skill, strong self-awareness, and a passion for people. Her drive to not only excel in her own work but also lift others around her made her a clear standout among a strong field of nominees.
Emma’s leadership is grounded in clarity. She speaks with confidence about what she values, where she wants to go, and how she plans to get there—qualities the judges repeatedly noted as mature beyond her years.
“Innovative and empathetic… confident, future-focused, and not afraid to speak up,” said one judge.
Emma has already stepped into a leadership role within her team—training new staff, contributing ideas to improve systems, and serving as a connector across teams. Her ability to advocate for herself and others was described as both empowering and refreshing.
Emma doesn’t pretend to have all the answers—and that’s part of what makes her such a strong emerging leader. Her willingness to be vulnerable, ask questions, and lean into honest conversations was recognised as a strength, not a weakness.
She shared openly about the challenges she’s faced—including navigating bias and assumptions—and how these experiences have shaped her desire to change the perception of what leadership in this industry can look like.
She spoke proudly of her involvement in the GroundED leadership programme, which gave her tools to grow, communicate more clearly, and step into her strengths. Judges noted that her growth through the programme was a key factor in her rising impact.
Emma is not just thinking about her own path—she’s thinking about the visibility of her industry and the importance of creating space for others to thrive too. She’s passionate about helping the next generation see groundspreading as a rewarding career.
“She’s someone who makes you sit up and listen,” one judge commented. “She’s focused on getting things done well and doing them with care.”
Emma’s leadership approach centres on people, performance, and purpose. She’s passionate about doing the job right—not just quickly—and making a difference beyond her own cab.
With a high combined score across all judges, Emma was the clear choice for the 2025 Ravensdown Young Achiever’s Award. She represents a new era of leadership—one that balances strength with softness, direction with curiosity, and ambition with humility.
Her story is a reminder that the future of the industry will be shaped by those who aren’t afraid to lead as themselves.
Ravensdown is a fertiliser co-operative. We manufacture and import quality agri-products for our shareholders. Ravensdown’s mission is to enable smarter farming for a better New Zealand. We are proud to support the Young Achiever’s Award. This award fits with Ravensdown’s philosophy of recognising the achievements of young people within agriculture. We already offer agri-scholarships and are delighted to grow our support of youth in agriculture by sponsoring this award.
We believe that by rewarding excellence in this way, we can help ensure that the ground spreading industry continues to attract young talent.
The inaugural Graymont Emerging Talent Award was introduced this year to recognise rising stars within the groundspread industry who are not in traditional management roles but are nonetheless making an outsized impact. These individuals represent the future of the sector through their values, work ethic, and ability to lead by example.
Stuart Davison (Piako Bulk Spreading) was selected as the first-ever recipient of this award—an acknowledgement of his deep-rooted integrity, technical skill, and unwavering commitment to clients, compliance, and community.
Stuart may work largely on his own, but he doesn’t see himself as working alone. Across all three judging assessments, it was clear: Stuart views his clients as teammates and sees himself as part of a wider ecosystem that includes farmers, stores, industry partners, and regulators.
“Stuart is a one-man band, but he sees all of his clients as part of his team,” noted one judge. “He’s passionate about spreading, about industry standards, and doing things the right way—for the long term.”
Whether it’s through maintaining a Spreadmark-audited fleet to the highest standard, engaging in conversations about regional compliance, or contributing to future-focused discussions on industry practices, Stuart consistently demonstrates that leadership isn’t about hierarchy—it’s about mindset.
Stuart doesn’t just “get the job done”—he does it with purpose, consistency, and care. His dedication to compliance, record-keeping, and ongoing professional development has made him a trusted figure in his region. He brings structure to his work, communicates clearly with clients, and is never afraid to ask, “How can we do this better?”
Judges noted his proactive approach to maintaining gear, preparing for audits, and educating others about industry standards. This attention to detail has created a ripple effect of trust and improvement across his client base.
While Stuart isn’t one to seek the spotlight, his influence is unmistakable. His ability to bring both technical precision and people-centred thinking to his work makes him an ideal recipient of this award.
“Stuart always asks what more he can do—for his region, for the industry, and for the land,” shared another judge. “He brings humility, but also a sharp understanding of what good looks like.”
Stuart is also actively thinking about how the industry can stay ahead. He’s interested in data-led decision making, adapting to regional rules, and creating a culture of pride in groundspreading—especially among younger entrants to the sector.
Graymont is a highly reliable and trusted global leader in delivering essential calcium-based solutions to meet the world’s changing needs. Founded in 1948, the company is professionally managed and family-owned to proudly serve a wide range of markets, customers and communities in North America and Asia Pacific. 
Graymont’s calcium-based solutions include high calcium lime, value-added lime-based products, pulverized limestone and construction stone products. They provide essential solutions to a wide range of industrial, construction and agricultural markets to support air and water purification, animal nutrition and soil conditioning, and production of materials such as paper, glass, steel, and critical minerals. Strongly committed to participating in a decarbonised economy, Graymont proactively invests in research and development and works closely with customers on their emerging needs and engineered solutions.
Groundspread NZ is proud to announce Adam Glasgow, of Glasgow Engineering Limited, as the recipient of the 2025 Keith Andrews Innovation Award. This prestigious award recognises exceptional creativity, leadership in technology integration, and a forward-thinking commitment to advancing our industry—and Adam embodies all of these qualities in spades.
Adam’s innovation journey is deeply rooted in both a practical understanding of the groundspread sector and a visionary approach to what’s possible. From the outset, his motivation to innovate has been driven by a desire to solve real-world problems in smarter, more efficient ways. This year, his work captured the judges’ attention across every key category—from problem-solving and measurable impact to technological integration and future vision.
Over the past three years, Adam has led several impactful projects aimed at increasing efficiency and accuracy. He’s been instrumental in integrating CAD survey tools, automating customer communication systems, and streamlining application processes—each of which has had clear operational benefits.
Judges noted the tangible outcomes of his work, particularly the way his use of modern survey and mapping technology has improved both service quality and internal workflows. “There’s strong evidence of both creativity and impact,” one judge remarked. “It’s not innovation for the sake of it—these solutions solve genuine problems.”
What sets Adam apart is not only his technical ability, but also his leadership in embedding innovation into the culture of his business. He actively promotes a “solutions-focused” mindset among his team, fostering an environment where ideas are encouraged and tested. His collaborative nature—working across teams and sometimes even with competitors—has led to breakthrough moments and strengthened industry relationships.
One judge commented, “Adam’s leadership is quiet but powerful. He empowers others and builds the kind of trust that fuels long-term innovation.”
Adam’s forward-thinking mindset was another standout feature. His plans to further develop precision application technologies and explore in-house training platforms demonstrate his ongoing commitment to not just keeping pace with change, but staying ahead of it. He also raised insightful observations about the challenges the industry faces—including technological accessibility and workforce upskilling—and offered practical ideas for tackling them.
Adam received the highest overall score from the judging panel, with consistent top marks across all eight evaluation areas. The panel praised his ability to blend innovation with operational demands, ensuring that creativity never comes at the cost of reliability.
As Groundspread NZ continues to celebrate excellence and progression in the sector, Adam’s win is a reminder that innovation thrives when it’s grounded in practical impact, led with integrity, and shared openly for the betterment of all.
Congratulations, Adam, on this well-deserved recognition!
Keith Andrews, New Zealand’s largest commercial vehicle dealer, is an established Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner and FUSO specialist providing commercial vehicle sales and service from locations throughout the North Island. The company’s ethos centres on the principle that great people make great businesses, and Keith Andrews is proud to have a team of passionate individuals, who share a common approach to delivering excellent customer service. Keith Andrews proudly sponsors the Innovation Award to support and celebrate the classic Kiwi traits of ingenuity and creativity for the betterment of the Groundspread industry and community.
A new legacy began at this year’s Industry Awards Gala with the presentation of the inaugural Spreadmark Trophy—a prestigious honour celebrating individuals who quietly champion excellence in nutrient placement. Donated by Groundspread NZ Life Member Jim Laird, long known for his unwavering commitment to the integrity of Spreadmark, the trophy recognises those whose daily commitment to the Spreadmark scheme uplifts the standard of our industry as a whole.
This year, the trophy was presented to Travis Churchill, a name already synonymous with professionalism, technical integrity, and the values that underpin Spreadmark.
Travis was described on the night as someone who consistently goes above and beyond. Known across the motu for his generous knowledge-sharing and down-to-earth approach, he never hesitates to offer support or advice on how trucks, technology, and technique can be improved—not just for one business, but for the benefit of the wider industry.
His deep respect among peers stems not only from his skill, but from his character. Humble, sincere, and always approachable, Travis exemplifies the best of the groundspread profession. He champions high standards without ego, leads without fanfare, and collaborates with authenticity. His sense of humour, good-natured presence, and willingness to get stuck in—whether on the trays or in the workshop—have made him a trusted figure across the groundspreading community.
Importantly, Travis continues to be a strong and active advocate for Spreadmark. He has supported the rollout of the revised Code of Practice, contributed ideas to improve training and application methods, and consistently demonstrates why precision fertiliser placement matters—for the land, for the client, and for the reputation of the sector.
When presenting the award, Groundspread NZ President Lee Cooper, alongside Jim Laird, remarked:
“Tonight’s recipient is known for going above and beyond. He is held in high esteem amongst his peers and never hesitates to share his knowledge for what we can do better with our trucks, to benefit our clients and our industry.”
“His sincerity, professionalism, and passion for the Spreadmark scheme is unwavering—he is exactly the type of person this award was created to honour.”
The Spreadmark Trophy will be awarded each year to an individual who makes a significant and positive impact on the Spreadmark scheme, whether as a certified tester, trainer, operator, or contributor behind the scenes. Travis Churchill now becomes the first name etched on this prestigious award—setting a high bar for years to come.
Congratulations, Travis. Your leadership, humility, and unwavering standards reflect the very best of who we are and what we aim for as an industry.
The Spreadmark Trophy was proudly introduced in 2025 by Groundspread NZ Life Member Jim Laird, who has been a tireless advocate for nutrient placement excellence throughout his career. With decades of service as a certified tester and a champion of best practice, Jim has quietly shaped the high standards we uphold today.
His decision to donate the Spreadmark Trophy reflects his deep commitment to recognising individuals who go above and beyond—not for recognition, but for the betterment of their team, their clients, and the industry. We are honoured to present this award each year in a way that continues Jim’s legacy of precision, professionalism, and quiet leadership.