Entries Up As Deadline Approaches For Dairy Awards

Entries Up As Deadline Approaches For Dairy Excellence Awards

Significant increase in the number of entries for the Fonterra Westpac Dairy Excellence Awards has pleased organisers who are now reminding farmers that the deadline for entries is January 16.

Competition Chairman, Jim Van der Poel, says there’s been more than a 30 percent increase in the number of entries for this year’s event.

“It’s great to see such an increase on entries last year with a good spread across all regions. I’m especially pleased to see the Taranaki region have a strong number of entries this year, ” says Jim.

“There are still even more coming in as the deadline looms – so we’re hoping to achieve an increase of 40 percent.”

Awards Project Manager Glenys Parton says all completed entry forms need to be received by January 16, so there’s still time for potential entrants to get their entry in.

“The regional committees have been very pro-active with assisting all entering with the entry process,” says Glenys.

“Field Reps and committee members approached the various people they felt were suitable in their regions, and have been mentoring them on what is required in their entries.”

Westpac Head of Agri, Karen Silk, says the decision by the organisers to utilise the networks available from the sponsors, such as Westpac’s rural banking managers and Field Reps from Fonterra, Dexcel and Ravensdown, had clearly paid off in increasing both the number and quality of entries.

“The RD1 Farm Manager Award has received a strong number of entries, but any Farm Managers out there that think they have what it takes should contact their local Field Rep asap, as the benefits from entering include benchmarking yourself against others and sharing knowledge with your peers.”

The Holden Lifetime Achievement Award nominees are also strong for each region and Glenys is confident with the quality of contenders to date.

The Fonterra Westpac Dairy Excellence Awards offer prizes to the Fonterra Westpac Farm Business of the Year and RD1 Farm Manager. They also seek to recognise contribution to the industry with the Holden Lifetime Achievement Award.

The awards have a total prize pool worth over $350,000 including a trip for two from each region to one of Fonterra’s overseas market.

The Awards are supported by Dexcel and sponsored by Holden, DTS, Livestock Improvement, Pioneer, Ravensdown Fertiliser, RD1 and Dairy InSight.

Fonterra suppliers still to get their entries in should contact their local Field Representative, Committee Member or visit http://www.dairyexcellenceawards.co.nz for further information.

© Scoop Media