Nikki recognised for lasting impact on White Suffolk breed in feature year
Australian White Suffolk Association secretary Nikki Ward has had a busy year organising several events to celebrate the breed's 40th anniversary, including the feature breed showing at the Royal Adelaide Show.
But one moment which took her completely by surprise during judging was being presented with a distinguished service award for the organisation.
Her love of the breed was instilled in her growing up on the Burwood stud at Bordertown, run by her parents Ian and Julie Pfeiffer.
Along with her siblings Casey and Shane, they helped show the stud's sheep with considerable success until the stud's dispersal in 2013. They also ran their own Tapton stud.
AWSA president Peter Angus recalls Nikki helping out considerably when the breed was celebrating its 21st anniversary in 2006 with plenty of fanfare and stories from the occasion.
This was the catalyst to her working with the breed in marketing, social media and registrations alongside Rob Martin who was the breed secretary.
"She must have enjoyed it because instead of studying radiation therapy she joined the Rural Services," he said.
Peter and Nikki worked together at Rural Services at the Adelaide Showground for a few years.
"I enjoyed working alongside Nikki during our time together in the Rural Services Office and her passion, organisation and attention to detail are a credit to her," Mr Angus said.
"Nikki loves agriculture, White Suffolks and the people who have been involved over the last 40 years in our great breed and we look forward to the future and what can be achieved together as an association. "
Former AWSA president Anthony Hurst added that Nikki worked tirelessly for the breed and had just notched up 15 years as the breed secretary, while juggling raising her two children, Harry and Annie, with husband Dan Ward.
From 2020 she took the big leap to move away from Rural Services and started her own business, Agri-Elements.
This is dedicated to providing executive and administrative support to breed societies, agricultural groups, and rural events across Australia.
"She has been passionate about her love for agriculture and the people involved and supporting members with friendships and connections lasting many years," Mr Angus said.
Nikki said it was a shock to be recognised and said she was fortunate to be surrounded by great people in the White Suffolk breeders.
"I am very lucky to be in a role where everyone cares so much and having that family history and meeting family friends, but then also being able to build on those relationships myself," she said.
"It is not probably the career path as an 18-year-old I thought I would take, but I am grateful to everyone who has helped me on the way and has trusted in me.
"I have made some close friends, all who have supported me through great times, such as getting married and having children and also the harder times."
She says there have been many highlights, but a standout was the conference held at Hahndorf earlier this year, marking 40 years of the breed.
"We had so many life members back there, as well as the younger breeders, that was exciting to see we had taken the breed that far and the next generation are coming through."
