Vincent Alexander Ashworth was born in Alexandra, New Zealand, on December 9, 1931, as the youngest of eleven children to Arthur John and Edna Mary (née Harrison) Ashworth. He first attended Alexandra District High School, then went to Otago Boys High School, and later furthered his education at Massey and Lincoln Universities.
In 1951, Vince was awarded a Rural Field Cadet Scholarship from the State Advances Corporation. This five-year program was designed to equip him for a role in one of the numerous government departments dedicated to the rural sector, and involved academic learning at Lincoln and Massey Universities, paired with hands-on experience in various farming systems.
Vince was awarded a Rural Field Cadet Scholarship by the State Advances Corporation in 1951. This five-year program was crafted to prepare him for a role in one of the many government departments focused on rural development, blending academic studies at Lincoln and Massey Universities with real-world experience in different farming systems.
In 1955, Vince graduated with credit from Lincoln with a Diploma in Valuation and Farm Management. He started his career as an Assistant Field Officer in the Department of Lands and Survey. After two years, he left the State Service to work as a professional agricultural adviser at a farm improvement club in Te Aroha.
Vince started Ashworth and Associates, Farm Management Consultants, in Morrinsville in 1960, creating a ground-breaking firm that was the first of its kind in New Zealand. In the early 1970s, he took part in various international consulting projects in countries such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Samoa, Tanzania, and Somalia.
In 1976, Vince and his family moved to Washington, DC, when he was invited to work as a senior agriculturalist at the World Bank. After a decade in Washington, he spent two years at the East Africa branch in Nairobi. His career took him to many interesting spots, including Eastern Europe (Romania, Yugoslavia), the Middle East (Yemen, Saudi Arabia), Central Asia (Afghanistan), and East Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia).
Vince decided to retire early in 1987 and shifted his focus to deer farming in Te Aroha. But he didn’t fully leave his career behind; he kept busy with consulting projects, mainly for the World Bank, in various countries like Yugoslavia, Macedonia, China, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Tanzania, Australia, and South Africa. On top of that, he volunteered with Save the Children (SCF) in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea and led the SCF Overseas Project Committee for several years (that's a few well-travelled passports!!)
With his status as a Fellow of the Institute of Agricultural Science, and Fellow and Life Member of the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management, Vince has left a significant legacy in agriculture. He was honoured with the Lincoln University Bledisloe Medal in 1980 for his exceptional service to the industry.
Vince is a keen sportsman who has proudly represented his schools and universities in both cricket and rugby, including a provincial rugby career with Manawatu in 1956-57 and Thames Valley in 1958-59. Golf is another passion of his, and he stays informed about both New Zealand and worldwide events.
In 1955, Vince wed Edna May Young in Palmerston North. Together, they raised four children, became proud grandparents to ten grandchildren, and a few great-grandkids. Vince is an avid gardener and has a passion for writing.
Vince has written two comprehensive biographies about his brothers: 'For Our Tomorrow He Gave His Today' (2009), which focuses on Flying Officer Corran Perry Ashworth, and 'Artie - Bomber Command Legend' (2014), showcasing the impressive career of Wing Commander Arthur ‘Artie’ Ashworth, who received honors including the AFC, DSO and DFC. In 2017, he shared his personal journey in 'A Full Life,' and he continued his family history exploration with 'The Ashworths of Central Otago' in 2019.
Following the passing of his beloved wife May, Vince released his fifth book, 'The Life We Shared,' which honors their almost 70 years together, packed with family moments, travel stories, and many adventures.
Vince was honoured for his remarkable achievements in agriculture when he was named a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit ('awarded for a prominent national or international role, leading role in regional affairs, or distinguished contribution to an area of activity') in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours List, for 'services to agriculture':
Source: The Department of the (New Zealand) Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) ❞As a Senior Agriculturalist with the World Bank, Mr Ashworth led missions to help farmers with food production in more than 30 developing countries. Notably, he did major work to improve farming practices for countries with harsh environments for agriculture, including Afghanistan, Yemen and Ethiopia. Recognising the lack of support for farmers on best practice farming, he established Ashworth and Associates in 1960, a farm management consultancy practice, the first of its kind in New Zealand. He led international work through the consultancy to Afghanistan and Western Samoa.
Following his consultancy success, he launched the New Zealand Society of Farm Management in 1969, serving as inaugural President, with thousands of farmers benefitting from research findings to improve their practices. He is a published author of six books since 2009 and has been recognised with two medals from Lincoln University for his contributions to agricultural consultancy and the university’s cultural heritage. He was a member of Save the Children New Zealand Overseas Projects Committee from 1978 to 1988, serving as Chair for three years. Mr Ashworth is a Life Member of the New Zealand Institute of Primary Industry Management and the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural Science.
Morrinsville King’s Birthday Honours recipient was farm advisor to the world
King’s Birthday Honours 2024: Vincent Ashworth, Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
