First round of Regional Awards finalists announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9 February 2017

FIRST ROUND OF REGIONAL DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

The 2017 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards is in full swing, with judging underway and the first regional finalists announced.

The awards, which oversee the Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions, received 424 entries.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra Farm Source, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy, and Ravensdown, along with industry partner Primary ITO.

General Manager Chris Keeping says this time of the year is always a highlight in the awards calendar, with preliminary judging and some finals judging in full swing.

“It’s a very busy time for everyone involved in the Awards, and March becomes even busier!” she said.

The first regional finalists to be announced are for the Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa, Manawatu, Northland and Taranaki regions, with winners announced at Regional Awards Dinners. Tickets are still available for these dinners and can be purchased online atwww.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

Regional Winners progress to the National Final and are judged by a national judging team to determine the national winners and placegetters of each competition. National winners will be announced on Saturday 6 May 2017 at Sky City Auckland.

HAWKES BAY/WAIRARAPA FINALISTS: (Winners announced Awards Dinner February 27th 2017)

Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists:

Brandyn Beale
Barnabas Ben-Canaan
Aaron Courage
Noah Firth
Aimee France
Devin Thompson

Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Manager of the Year finalists:

Damon Ashworth
Kenny Henderson
Andrew Melvin
Kelli Pailthorpe
Craig Pennell

Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa Share Farmer of the Year entrants:

Adam & Becs Giddens
Bruce & Jo Husband
Thomas Read
Adam Scott & Amy Shields
Rob & Shiralee Seerden

MANAWATU FINALISTS: (Winners announced Awards Dinner March 1st 2017)

Manawatu Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists:

Emma Kearins
Stephanie Walker
Sam White
David Malone
Joel Peterson

Manawatu Dairy Manager of the Year finalists:

Craig Crampton
Hayley Hoogendyk
Paul Mercer
Ange Strawbridge
Renee Washington

Manawatu Share Farmer of the Year entrants:

Renae Flett
Jarrod & Nikki Greenwood
Lisa Hicks
Michael & Raewyn Hills
Brian Underwood

NORTHLAND FINALISTS: (Winners announced March 17th 2017)

Northland Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists:

Blake Anderson
Henry McLeod
Erin Mitchell
Sarah Powell
Nicholas Thomas

Northland Dairy Manager of the Year finalists:

Cassandra Campbell & Troy Thomson
Martyn Davies
Jared Dean
Greg Imeson
Balkaran Singh Sran

Northland Share Farmer of the Year entrants:

Niall & Delwyn McKenzie
Philip & Pia Rockell
Sarah Thorne & Tony Sellars

TARANAKI FINALISTS: (Winners announced Awards Dinner March 3rd 2017)

Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists:

Chayce Bailey
Tim Bonner
Jerome Grey
Marshall Jane
Benjamin Phillips

Taranaki Dairy Manager of the Year finalists:

Sam Hughson
Matt Kelbrick
Kyran Muller
Shaun Neal
Sam Symonds

Taranaki Share Farmer of the Year entrants:

Dion & Johanna Bishell
Natalie & Ian Butler
Andrew & Tanya Dobbin
Matt Gugi
Conna Smith

ENDS

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