Federated Farmers members and staff are mourning the loss of former national board member, Chris Allen, who died in a tragic accident at his farm on Monday.
“Farmers have lost a real Titan in terms of rural advocacy,” said Federated Farmers chief executive, Terry Copeland.
“Not only was Chris hugely knowledgeable on agriculture and environment issues, he was respected for his fairness, collegiality and open-mindedness.”
On an all-staff Federated Farmers online call on Tuesday morning, accolades flowed from those who had worked with Mr Allen on policy issues. His optimism, work ethic and friendliness were mentioned, among other qualities, Mr Copeland said.
Mr Allen was a Mid-Canterbury Federated Farmers meat and wool chair, then president, before joining the national board in 2014. During his eight years’ service in that role, he made his mark as biodiversity and freshwater spokesperson, said Mr Copeland.
Mr Allen also co-chaired a stakeholder-led Biodiversity Collaborative Group which was established in 2016. The group’s 2018 report helped steer national policy on biodiversity.
Another mark of Mr Allen’s concern for fellow farmers was his decision to fly from his Christchurch home to Napier in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle, said Mr Copeland.
“As someone who had experienced serious flooding on his own farm, he wanted to offer fellow farmers support and his personal experience that times would be tough, but there was light at end of the tunnel.”
Federated Farmers President, Wayne Langford said Mr Allen farmed to a very high standard, was respected and was a friend to many.
“Chris always had a line: ‘it needs to be sensible, practical and affordable’. That’s a line that still resonates with many boards or collaborative groups he has been a part of.
“I’ll remember Chris for being a guy who took his advocacy for farmers seriously but could always share a good laugh and a joke too,” Mr Langford says.
“His passing is a great loss to the Feds family.
“We send our condolences, thoughts and prayers to his family.”
