Company co-founders Philip and Adele Hughes, who established Banchory Station in 1985 and then Rangeland Quality Meats in 2010 to meet end consumer needs, accepted the award among a host of industry identities, including NFF president Jock Laurie, MLA chairman Rob Anderson and outgoing AgForce Queensland president Brent Finlay.
Banchory Station near Clermont is a 16,000 hectare breeding property with Brahman infused cows joined to Angus bulls where mainly black, flat-backed calves are raised on grass until they are about 250-300kg weaners when they are transported to Dulacca Downs and Heatherlea for backgrounding on grass for about six months.
RQM supplies a complete selection of beef product lines marketed to different market segments, focusing on supplying premium cuts to high end users online, Farmers Markets, restaurants and steakhouses.
The night was also a special one for new AgForce president, Central Queensland mixed producer Ian Burnett and new AgForce Cattle president Howard Smith, Mt Panorama, Rolleston who replaces Grant Maudsley, Mitchell.
AgForce also launched a new $10,000 bursary open to 18-30 year olds named in honour of former AgForce president, the late Peter Kenny.
Other Red Meat award winners were:
Clancy James, Innovation in Red Meat Retailer of the Year Award
Lockyer Hotel, Best Red Meat Restaurant - Regional Award
Tank Restaurant & Bar, Best Red Meat Restaurant - Metropolitan Award
Alistair Henderson and the Northern Pastoral Group, Outstanding Partners in Red Meat Research & Development
Elisha Seekamp, Red Meat Industry Emerging Leader