To The Top Sharemilker The Spoils

New Zealand’s top sharemilking team for 2001/2002 will take home a prize package valued at $35,000 including a 4 x 4 farm bike valued at $15,000.

This comes from a total New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year prize pool valued at well over $60,000.

But even before sharemilkers become national finalists, they have the chance to win fabulous prizes at their regional level.

Entrants in this year’s regional Sharemilker of the Year competitions will compete for a prize pool valued at more than $11,000.

“Our national sponsors have shown just how highly they value this competition by the level to which they have contributed to both the regional and national events,” says the competition’s national convenor Chris Keeping.

National sponsors of the competition are Federated Farmers (which also owns the event), ACC, AnchorMart, Bank of New Zealand, Dexcel, Ecolab, Honda, Gallagher Group, Livestock Improvement Corporation and Ravensdown Fertiliser.

In addition to first, second and third prizes, awards will be made for special skills relating to sharemilking including pasture management, dairy hygiene, herd records, farm safety, financial management and leadership.

“The range of rewards reflects the wide range of talents which today’s sharemilkers must demonstrate to be leaders in their field,” Ms Keeping says. But while the list of prizes is impressive, she says, the benefits of entering the competition go much further than material prizes.

“Through being a part of the competition, sharemilkers meet experienced people in the industry from whom they can learn a huge amount. Many former sharemilkers who have done well in past competitions say it gave them added credibility when applying for sharemilking positions,” Ms Keeping says.

“And then there is the social perspective of the competition – an opportunity for sharemilkers to meet like-minded people. They often make friends for life, ” says Ms Keeping.

Entries are open for this year’s regional Sharemilker of the Year events. Entrants have until December (XX??) to return entry forms which are available from Federated Farmers Federated Farmers offices, or by calling 0800 Farming (0800 327-646).

The winners from each of the 11 regional competitions held throughout the country will go forward to take part in the national New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year finals to be held in Hamilton on May 11 next year.

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