Regional Winners Benefit From Peer Interaction

April 5 2003

Regional Winners Benefit From Interaction With Peers

Bay of Plenty Sharemilker of the Year winners Andrew and Jackie Siemelink say that interaction with other competitors has helped them refocus their business goals and streamline their sharemilking operation.

Last night the Siemelinks were announced winners of the competition, taking home almost $9000 in cash and prizes. They also nearly scooped the merit awards, winning the Federated Farmers of New Zealand Inc Leadership award, the Livestock Improvement Best Herd Records award, the Ravensdown Pasture Management award, the Bank of New Zealand Business Management and Future Aims award, the Stocktech Best Stock Management award, and the RSL Chartered Accountants Financial Management award.

The Siemelinks 50:50 sharemilk 270 cows on a 120 hectare Papamoa farm, owned by Jack and Jill By De Ley. Their goal is to one day have their own 400 cow dairy farm in the Te Puke area.

Andrew and Jackie say they entered the competition so that they could meet their industry peers and lift their business profile.

“The competition has allowed us to extend our network within the dairy industry. It was great to meet other likeminded people and get to know them better,” they say.

The Siemelinks say the competition, which is run in association with Federated Farmers of New Zealand Inc., has helped them to focus on the really important aspects of their business.

“The competition makes you think critically about your entire operation – it brings a whole new focus to the business.”

Andrew and Jackie will now progress to the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year final to be held in Auckland on May 3, where they will compete for a total prize pool worth more than $60,000.

ACC, Blue Wing Honda, Bank of New Zealand, Fonterra, Livestock Improvement, Ravensdown, Ecolab, RD1, Dairy InSight and Dexcel sponsor the competition.

Second place went to Kelly and Karen Shaw of Pukehina, who also won the Coast & Country Best Animal Antics Merit Award. They won almost $3500 in cash and prizes.

Larry Wetting of Galatea came in third, also winning the Dairy InSight First Time Entrant Merit Award. In total he won prizes worth $2000.

Other Merit Ward Winners:
- BOP Environmental Award: Nick and Lyz Palmer, Manawahe
- Contribution to the Community: Nick and Lyz Palmer
- Whakatane Federated Farmers Variable Order: David and Delys Cram, Whakatane
- BOP Electricity Runner-up Variable Order: Steve and Nicola Cheer, Pongakawa - Te Puke
- Outstanding Endeavour: Pedar Bayne & Maria Sayliss-Bayne, Cape
Runaway.
- Ecolab Farm Dairy Environment Award: Nick and Lyz Palmer
- Blue Wing Honda ATV Safety Merit Award: David and Delys Cram
- ACC Thinksafe Farm Safety Merit Award: David and Delys Cram

ENDS

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