Sgt Dan Stockfoods Employee Wins Award

Sgt Dan Stockfoods Employee Wins 2015 Feed Industry Trainee of the Year Award

Born-and-bred Gore resident Craig Jones modestly says he has “a bit of experience” in the feed milling industry – and along with aptitude and enthusiasm it played a key role in his winning of the New Zealand Feed Manufacturers Association’s Feed Trainee of the Year Award for 2015.

The prestigious award recognises the trainee achieving the highest overall marks in the Association’s industry training programme. Study for the 12-month course, which leads to the New Zealand Certificate of Stock Feed Manufacturing, involves a combination of theory units, workplace assessments and two two-day workshop courses.

Craig is a Senior Mill Operator at the Sgt Dan Stockfoods Ltd pelletised feed mill at Gore, where he oversees a variety of computer-operated and manual processes from the unloading of pallets of ingredients when they arrive to dispatch of the finished product.

"Craig effectively runs his shift at the mill,” says Daryl Moyles, Managing Director of Sgt Dan Stockfoods Ltd. “He has been with us for nine years and has a wealth of experience. He is also a first-class team member who doesn’t hesitate to pitch in and help with any task that may be required.”

Craig's involvement in feed milling actually goes back to the age of 17, when a casual bagging job at an NRM mill in Mataura led to work in the feed press area and then further experience at a mill in Oamaru. During a year working for Solid Energy in Southland he gained a boiler ticket and undertook health and safety courses – which later helped him play an instrumental role in drafting the health and safety policies for the Sgt Dan mill in Gore.
“Craig's diligent approach was a key factor in his win of the Trainee of the Year Award," says Daryl Moyles. “From the beginning, when we approached him about doing the certificate course, the qualification was as important to him as it was to us. He tackled the substantial amount of study that was involved in a very disciplined way."

Craig says the year-long course gave him valuable new insights into the technical aspects of his role.

“One of the most interesting things for me was learning about the complexities of moisture levels in feeds; it provided a new perspective on how the press and other manufacturing processes operate and it’s whetted my appetite for more training."

As part of his award, Craig travelled to Christchurch last month for a presentation ceremony at the NZFMA’s Annual General Meeting, and attended a dinner with senior feed industry executives.

“The NZFMA Feed Trainee of the Year Award is part of the NZFMA’s commitment to creating a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce,” says NZFMA Executive Director, Michael Brooks. “Approximately 20% of our member-sourced funding is now devoted to our industry training programme, which reflects our belief that the feed industry offers an attractive career pathway for young people.”

ENDS

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