More than 400 Earlybirds in Dairy Awards

For Immediate Release
3 December 2012
More than 400 Earlybirds in Dairy Awards

A record 158 entries received last week in the 2013 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has pushed the number of entrants eligible for the earlybird entry prize draw to 428.

“It was an amazing week,” National convenor Chris Keeping says. “We had a record 158 entries and on the last day for people to enter and be eligible for the earlybird entry prize draw we had 49 entries alone!”

Mrs Keeping says the number is up from 381 at the same time last year.

Entries are still being accepted online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz in the 2013 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year. All entries close on December 20.

She says those eligible for the earlybird entry prize draw – three Honda XR125 Duster farm bikes each valued at $4000, one to be drawn from earlybird entries in each contest – had to enter before December 1 and will still need to meet some conditions, like progressing through the awards past judging.

“The response proves what a great early entry incentive the farm bikes are.”

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner AgITO.

Awards entrants will first compete in one of 12 regional competitions being held around the country, with the winners all progressing to the national finals. The 2013 national final will be held in Wellington on May 24.

To date, the Canterbury/North Otago region has the most entries, with 52 received across the three competitions. The Waikato and Taranaki regions follow with 49 and 48 entries respectively.

Organisers expect about 500 people will enter the 2013 awards. Further information on the awards can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

ENDS

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