Thames Sharemilkers Take Out Title

Thames Sharemilkers Take Out Title

Thames sharemilkers Peter (36) and Sandi (34) Thompson have been declared 2005 Auckland/Hauraki Sharemilkers of the Year at an awards function in Auckland tonight.

The Thompsons are 50:50 sharemilkers at Matatoki where they milk 265 cows on 90 hectares owned by Mrs Merle Smith of Harold Smith Matatoki Ltd. Their current production is 91,197kg/ms.

It was the couple’s third attempt at the title and they say benefits of taking part have included mixing with like-minded, motivated people, recognition of hard work, benchmarking and self analysis.

Peter and Sandi believe that being able to work well together as a partnership, with good planning and time management, enables them to run a cost effective system without need for additional labour.

“We operate a simple, efficient system and do the basics well,” Peter Thompson says.

He has been dairy farming since leaving school at the age of 15. He started 50:50 sharemilking in 1992/93 for his parents’ Northwood Farm Ltd and remained there till 2001/2002.

He met Sandi, a “townie”, eight years ago and together they started sharemilking for Harold Smith Matatoki Ltd in 2002.

With five children aged between five and 14 years, family is a big priority along with a shared interest in stock cars. Their future goal is farm ownership.

They also won the Bank of New Zealand Financial Management Award and the Livestock Improvement Best Herd Records Award.

The Thompsons will now represent Auckland/North Waikato at the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year Awards in Hamilton on May 7, competing for a national prize pool of $63,000.

Runners up in the event were Richard and Amanda Jones from Huntly, with third place to Daniel and Rosemary Harris from Ngatea.

The 2005 New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year Competition is run in association with Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) and sponsored by Dairy InSight, ACC, Bank of New Zealand, Blue Wing Honda, Dexcel, Ecolab, Fonterra, Livestock Improvement and Ravensdown.

Regional convenors Mitchell and Lynne Bragg, who won the regional title two years ago, congratulated all entrants on taking part.

“Having been involved ourselves we know they will have benefited from the experience. We wish them all well and will be cheering on Peter and Sandi in Hamilton in May,” Mitchell Bragg says. A field day will be held on the winner’s farm at 324 Matatoki Road, Matatoki, Thames on Monday, April 11.

Other results were: Farmers Vet Club Aims and Attitudes Award: Adam Deane (Paeroa) Merial Outstanding Endeavour Award: Hayden and Naomi Foster (Maungaturoto) Pak ‘n’ Save Presentation Award: Daniel and Rosemary Harris (Ngatea) Dairy Insight First Time Entrant Award: Daniel and Rosemary Harris (Ngatea) Ecolab Farm Dairy Environment Award: Shannon and Debbie Welman (Te Kauwhata) Ravensdown Pasture Management Award: Richard and Amanda Jones (Huntly) ACC Thinksafe Farm Safety Award: Richard and Amanda Jones (Huntly) Blue Wing Honda ATV Safety Award: Hayden and Naomi Foster (Maungaturoto) Federated Farmers Leadership Award: Stephen and Michele Martin (Kamo)

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