Full House Confirmed For Sharemilkers

7 December 2005

Full House Confirmed For Sharemilkers

Organisers of the 2006 New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year are delighted to be able to announce that with confirmation of a competition in the Otago and the Top of the North regions, there is a “full house” for the first time in several years.

The far north returns under the Federated Farmers of New Zealand banner after a number of years’ absence and Otago returns after one “fallow” year caused by particularly harsh conditions which resulted in a scarcity of entrants.

“It’s great news that every sharemilker in the country now has the opportunity to shoot for the national Sharemilker of the Year title,” says competition chair Alison Watters.

“We’ve had some excellent competitions in recent years, but it’s really special to have a truly national event and already the entries are starting to flow in. We’re expecting it to be a bumper year.”

The 2006 New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year Competition is run in association with Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) and is sponsored by Dairy InSight, ACC, Bank of New Zealand, Blue Wing Honda, Dexcel, Ecolab, Fonterra, Livestock Improvement and Ravensdown.

Entries close on December 20, 2005.

Winners from the 12 regional events will meet up in Christchurch on May 13, 2006 to contest the national title won last year by Canterbury couple Leo and Kathryn vanden Beuken.

“It’s an extraordinary experience to represent your region and to meet up with the best every other region has to offer,” says Mrs Watters who with her husband Andrew represented Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa region in 2002 and went on to win the national title.

Like many other former contestants, the Watters have stayed involved with the competition to give back some of what they have gained from the experience.

“We learned so much, met so many wonderful people, and have tapped in to some very valuable networks. The prizes of course are fabulous too, but other aspects of taking part are beyond value,” Mrs Watters says.

Entry forms are available from Federated Farmers PH 0800 327 646, or by contacting the regional convenors and sponsor representatives or can be downloaded from www.fedfarm.org.nz/smoty

ENDS

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