First 2013 Dairy Awards Winners

For Immediate Release
25 February 2013

First 2013 Dairy Awards Winners

In less than a week the first regional winners in the 2013 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards will be announced, opening new opportunities and career prospects.

National convenor Chris Keeping says it is an exciting time when the winners of the 12 regional competitions become known and a new group of passionate and enthusiastic dairy farmers step forward.

“We had more than 550 entries this year, so our judges are working extremely hard to identify those sharemilkers, equity farmers, farm managers, contract milkers and trainees doing the best with the resources and farm they have available to them. The awards are not about being perfect, they are about making progress.”

Mrs Keeping says the regional winners of the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions will all progress to the national final and the opportunity for further recognition and prizes. In 2013 the national final is being held in Wellington on May 24.

The first regional winners will be known on March 2, when Northland holds its awards dinner. Those entered in the West Coast/Top of the South region have the longest wait, with their winners announced on April 11.

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.

The 2001 New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year and two-time National judge, Dave Davis, says the awards provide opportunities to learn, to present, to meet people and to gain recognition.

Mr Davis encourages all entrants to try again if they are not successful. “Take it as a positive as entering keeps you on track with a lot of things. I would also like to think people try again as it’s not just about winning and you don’t always get what you want straight away. It probably makes you stronger in the end.”

Mr Davis, and wife Julie, entered five times before they were successful in Waikato and in the New Zealand final.

Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for information on tickets to the regional awards dinners and to learn more about the winners as they are announced.

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