Dairy Awards Drives Progress In Industry
Dairy Awards Drives Progress In
Industry
The New Zealand Dairy Industry
Awards is succeeding in its goal of recognising excellence
among farmers as they progress in the dairy
industry.
Three of the 11 finalists in the 2013 New
Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year competition
are past entrants and regional winners in the New Zealand
Farm Manager of the Year contest.
National convenor
Chris Keeping says it is an exciting development in the
awards programme, which has run in its current format since
2006 when the sharemilker/equity farmer, farm manager and
New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions were
brought together.
“We always envisaged the awards
would be used as a mechanism for people to advance their
dairy farming career by participating in each stage of the
awards programme – from trainee to farm manager and then
sharemilker/equity farmer,” Mrs Keeping says. “We
thought entering the awards would help them gain in
recognition and reputation to take the next step in their
dairying career and make them sought after by employers and
business partners.”
West Coast/Top of the South
finalists Peter and Helen McLaren won the region’s farm
manager title in 2008. In 2010 Bay of Plenty finalists
Russell and Nadine Meade won the region’s farm manager
title and competed against Southland’s Don Moore for
national honours. “While none of them were successful at
the national level, the experience will be valuable as they
prepare for this year’s finals,” she says.
The
New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national
sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers,
Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy,
Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner
AgITO.
The 11 finalists in the sharemilker/equity
farmer contest also include eight couples, two brothers
farming in partnership and two males. It is the second time
four of the finalists have competed in the awards, the third
time for two finalists and it is the seventh time entering
for one. Four finalists are first time entrants.
“They’re also a pretty young group – with
just one finalist aged over 40 years old and six aged 30 or
less.”
Mrs Keeping says five are traditional 50%
sharemilkers, three hold lower order sharemilking positions,
and three are equity managers or equity partners. The herd
sizes range from 220 cows to 1350 cows.
“Add to
the mix a range of tertiary and trade qualifications and
industry experience, and it’s going to be a really
interesting challenge for the judges to pick the winner,”
she says.
The 2013 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity
Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and
New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year winners will be
announced at an awards ceremony in Wellington on May
24.
Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz
for more information on the
finalists.
ENDS