At Margaret River Free Range Eggs we continually strive to improve our business and the welfare of the hens. For that, we have been recognised with numerous industry awards, but most importantly by you, our customers for choosing our eggs.
- 1999 WA Agriculture Department grant for the introduction of new technology.
- 2000 WA Agriculture Department’s Excellence in Rural Innovation for the new shed design.
- 2003 Department of Industry and Resources Recognition of Achievement.
- 2004 Churchill Fellowship to investigate feed alternatives, disease management and marketing of organic eggs in America, Canada, the UK, Germany, and Denmark.
- 2006 Only recipient of the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Awards for value adding in regional Australian food processing.
- Churchill Fellowship
In 2003 Kim was the only WA representative of Australian farmers on a tour led by AOF chairman Don Macfarlane to America to view organic food production in 11 states over three weeks.
Although Kim learned as much from his fellow producer travellers, the trip was inspirational and cemented Kim’s philosophy that good farming needs to be system led.
He particularly enjoyed meeting Amish farmers some who used modern technology and some who didn’t but who all practiced as they have always ‘organic’ principles. The highlights were meeting Joel Salatin, an icon in organic farming in America, and talks by Jerry Brunetti, the founder of Agri-Dynamics, which is a holistic approach to farming.
Kim Harwood with American organic farming icon, Joel Salatin.
The aim of the Churchill Trust is to give an opportunity for Australians to further their study for excellence overseas. It is merit based on past achievement and demonstrates the ability for future achievement. Critical criteria are an applicant’s value to the community.
Kim was awarded a prodigious Churchill Scholarship in 2004, and in 2005 travelled to America, Canada, England, Germany, Switzerland, and Denmark to explore organic egg production and marketing. This invaluable first-hand experience has fortified his knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of organic farming and has aided his plans and strategies for our organic egg farm.
