Hawkes Bay Wairarapa Sharemilker of the Year

Media release
Hawkes Bay Wairarapa Sharemilker of the Year

4 MARCH 2006

Supreme Sharemilkers To Represent
Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa

Woodville sharemilkers Mark Wood (32) and Gretchen Percy (31) have been named 2006 Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa Sharemilker of the Year at an awards event in Pahiatua tonight.

Mark and Gretchen are 50:50 sharemilkers milking 212 cows on a 72 hectare property owned by Don and Ann Boniface.

It is the second time they have entered the competition, seeking a challenge in analysing their farming and business skills while benchmarking themselves against their peers.

They have been sharemilking since 1998 when they started with a 20 percent variable order contract. Their Woodville position is their first 50:50 contract.

Mark and Gretchen believe that working well as a team and being able to take over each other’s roles when necessary, has been a valuable business strength for them.

They also work to achieve a low cost, high producing farming system. Their goal is to have land ownership by 2010.

The couple will now go forward to represent Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa in the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year national final to be held in Christchurch on May 13, competing for a national prize pool of nearly $60,000.

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.

Runners up in the Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa contest were Ben and Nicky Allomes also from Woodville. Third place went to Brent and Lisa Lyons again from Woodville.

A field day will be held on the winners farm on Pinfold Road Woodville on Tuesday, March 21.

Other prizes went to:
Most promising sharemilker of the year. Chris Sutton and Dana Orr
Livestock Management Award Winner: Mark Wood and Gretchen Percy
Dairy InSight first time entrant award Avon and Jo Bengston
Federated Farmers Leadership Award Ben and Nicky Allomes
ACC Thinksafe Sharemilker Award Sydney Hikawai and Tracey Henderson
Bank of New Zealand Financial Management Award Brent and Lisa Lyons
Blue Wing Honda ATV Safety Award Mark Wood and Gretchen Percy
Ecolab Farm dairy Management Award Sydney Hikawai amd Tracey Henderson
LIC Best Herd Records Award Brent and Lisa Lyons
Ravensdown Pasture Management Award Chris Sutton and Dana Orr

ENDS

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