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Matamata Sharemilkers Take Out Waikato Title

11pm Friday, March 24 2006

Matamata Sharemilkers Take Out Waikato Title

Matamata sharemilkers Peter (37) and Vanessa (36) Wilcox have been named 2006 Waikato Sharemilkers of the Year at a function in Hamilton tonight.

The couple are 50:50 sharemilkers, milking 380 cows on 115 effective hectares owned by Bill Troughton, producing 116,000kg/ms.

It was the Wilcoxes’ second attempt at the title. They say benefits of entering include having the judges review their business and giving them feedback.

“It’s also been valuable to compare ourselves with other good sharemilkers and meet positive, like-minded people,” said Mr Wilcox.

Peter’s career began when as a farm cadet he won an exchange to Berkshire Agricultural college in England in 1990.

He managed a farm for five years on his return to New Zealand then spent a further five years 50:50 sharemilking 200 cows.

The couple married in 2000 and moved to their current 50:50 position milking 380 cows where they worked together as a team until their daughter Sarah was born 10 months ago.

Good communications are an important strength of their business, the Wilcoxes believe.

“We have very good relationships with our employers and farm advisors and continue our friendships long after leaving a position,” said Mrs Wilcox.

“Also, our ability to plan – feed budgets and financial budgets, for example – allows us to be ready for any contingencies and assists us to alter the plan and take advantage of any opportunities that arise,” said Mr Wilcox.

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Short term, Peter and Vanessa’s farming goals are to move on to a larger sharemilking position. In the future, they hope to own their own farm or equity share in a farm.

Peter and Vanessa will now go forward to represent Waikato 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.

Runner up in the Waikato awards was


Merial NZ Animal Health Award John and Denise Adamson
Kevin Deane Harcourts Real Estate – Best Endeavour presented by Kevin Deane Warren and Leann Martin
Waikato Farmers – First 50/50 Contract Presented by Allied Farmers Livestock Manager John Kelly John and Denise Adamson
John Austin Ltd – Human Resource Management presented by John Austin Mark and Rachel Barker
Animal Health Centre – Variable Order Award presented by Ron Gibson Myron Horsford

Dairy InSight first time entrant award Mark and Rachel Barker
Federated Farmers Leadership Award Hamish and Lisa Lile
ACC ThinkSafe Farm Safety Award Steve and Laura Young
Bank of New Zealand Financial Management Award Mark and Rachel Barker
Blue Wing Honda ATV Safety Award Hamish and Lisa Lile
Ecolab Farm Dairy Environment Award Peter and Vanessa Wilcox
LIC Best Herd Records Award Peter and Vanessa Wilcox
Ravensdown Pasture Management Award Peter and Vanessa Wilcox

ENDS

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