New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards - Media Releases

Winners Found in Northland Dairy Awards

The winners have been announced in the 2010 Northland Dairy Industry Awards, with Mangatapere sharemilkers Kent and Jennifer Martin taking out the top award.

The Martin’s, who 50% sharemilk 430 cows, won the Northland Sharemilkers of the Year title and took home $7800 in cash and prizes.

The 2010 Northland Farm Manager of the Year, Mark Clements, and 2010 Northland Dairy Trainee of the Year, Michael Deal, were also announced winners at an awards dinner at the Copthorne Hotel, Paihia, last night.

Kent and Jennifer Martin are sharemilkers for Kevin and Pat Sidwell, and are aiming to produce 120,000kg milksolids this season. It was the second time they had entered the awards, after first entering eight years ago.

“We were keen to enter this year as we feel we have progressed significantly and we were interested to have some feedback as to where we are now placed,” they couple says.

“Strengths of our business include our ability to work well together. We each have our own strengths and complement each other well. We are also fortunate with the ability of our business to keep growing and to change and adapt to new and challenging situations.”

Variable order sharemilkers Geoff and Kristie Colson were runners-up in the Northland Sharemilker of the Year competition, winning $4000 in cash and prizes. The couple are 21% sharemilking 510 cows for Steve and Naiouli Wilson at Warkworth.

For the 2010 Northland Farm Manager of the Year winner, Mark Clements, it was a case of going one better this year. Last year he was runner-up in the same competition.

Mr Clements is managing a 320ha farm milking 650 cows for Stephen and Wendy Wright at Kaeo. He won $5800 in cash and prizes.

He says there are huge benefits to be had from entering the Dairy Industry Awards. “It is very motivating to meet other successful farmers, to network with other managers and to identify opportunities for the coming season.”

Mr Clements says the size of the property and its stage of development along with the strong relationship he has with the farm owners are strengths of the operation.

“We feel that everyone wins when the working relationship involves a high level of integrity and commitment to all parties concerned. It is a good environment to work in,”

Second place in the farm manager competition went to Charlotte Barr, who has stepped up a contest after winning the Northland dairy trainee title last year. She won $4000.

Twenty-seven year-old Kaiwaka farm manager Zane Bell placed third in the contest, wining $2500.

The winner of the 2010 Northland Dairy Trainee of the Year, Michael Deal, has helped to continue the long association of success for his employers, former Northland and New Zealand Sharemilkers of the Year, Bruce and Julie Paton. The Paton’s also employ Miss Barr.

Mr Deal, a farm assistant, won $2850 in cash and prizes for his win.

“I entered the awards as I had heard lots about the competition. I wanted to network with other farmers and sponsors as I am only young and I want to get to know these people that I will be working with for years to come. I also wanted to win!”

He plans to go sharemilking within three years and ultimately own his own farm. Other goals are to complete his modern apprenticeship and production management course and win another contest – to be the Top Level 4 Trainee at the AgITO Northland AgriAwards.

Second place in the dairy trainee competition went to Matakohe farm assistant David Williams, 24, and third place was won by Julian Retikaukau, 22, a dairy production manager for Landcorp near Kaitaia. They won $500 and $250 respectively.

All three winners will now compete for the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year titles and a prize pool of more than $130,000 in Rotorua on May 15.

Northland Sharemilkers of the Year Kent and Jennifer Martin will host a field day on March 23, while Northland Farm Manager of the Year Mark Clements will host a field day on the Kaeo farm he manages on March 30. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on this website.

Sharemilker Merit Awards:
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Kent & Jennifer Martin
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Craig Pullar
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) Leadership Award – Geoff & Kristie Colson
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Kent & Jennifer Martin
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Craig Pullar
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Craig Pullar
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Geoff & Kristie Colson
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Kent & Jennifer Martin

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
• Northland Regional Council Sustainable Land Management Award – Charlotte Barr
• DairyNZ Human Resource Management Award – Zane Bell
• RD1 Farm Management Award – Charlotte Barr
• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Mark Clements

Newcomers Enjoy Dairy Awards Success

Switching careers has paid off for a former motor mechanic and nurse, with Shayne and Rochelle Hutchinson winning the 2010 Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Sharemilker of the Year title.

The couple were announced the winners at the Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Dairy Industry Awards dinner at Awapuni Racecourse near Palmerston North last night, taking home $17,500 in cash and prizes.

The 2010 Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Farm Managers of the Year, Michael and Susanna Booth, and 2010 Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Dairy Trainee of the Year, Amanda Brew, were also announced.

The Hutchinson’s dairy farming career began in 2003 – when they also bought their first weaner heifers – and they began sharemilking in 2005. Their current position is 50% sharemilking 400 cows for Trevor Timmins at Kairanga.

"We love the industry and have found the dairy industry network to be very supportive and encouraging to newcomers, guiding us and helping us to achieve our goals."

They have also found support through entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.

"This was our second time entering the awards and it has certainly highlighted our strengths and weaknesses. It has helped us to refocus on our goal of farm ownership and aided in running our business more efficiently and profitably."

They say their strengths are working as a team and recognising opportunities.

Palmerston North 26% sharemilkers Kyran and Emma Brown placed second in the sharemilker competition, winning $7200, and Rongotea 50% sharemilkers Kyle and Virginia Marshall placed third, winning $3700 in cash and prizes.

The Farm Managers of the Year, Michael and Susanna Booth, aged 26 and 24, are managing a 700-cow farm for Richard and Joy Gibson at Longburn, near Palmerston North. They are buying into the herd on the farm and hope to take on a 50% sharemilking position in three years whilst also retaining their current position.

The Booth’s, who won $6650 in cash and prizes, say the farm is summer safe as it receives Fonterra irrigation year round.

It was the first time they had entered the awards, doing so as they were encouraged and believed they would learn from the experience.

Second place in the Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Farm Manager of the Year contest went to Feilding equity farm manager Ewen Macdonald, aged 29, who won $3700.

It was a case of keeping it within the farm for Apiti equity farm manager Hamish Easton, 33, who placed third in the contest winning $2800, while his farm assistant Amanda Brew, 25, won the 2010 Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Dairy Trainee of the Year title, winning $2850 in prizes.

Miss Brew says she entered the contest for a challenge and networking opportunity. Her goals are to move into a farm management position and then build equity to ultimately achieve farm ownership.

Second place in the dairy trainee contest went to 24-year-old Michael Rigarlsford, a second in-charge on a farm near Palmerston North, and third place went to Kerry Walker, 19, a Foxton herd manager. They won $500 and $250 respectively.

Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Sharemilkers of the Year Shayne and Rochelle Hutchinson will host a field day on March 25, while Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Farm Managers of the Year Michael and Susanna Booth will host a field day on the Longburn farm they manage on March 31. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on this website.

Sharemilker Merit Awards:

Naylor Lawrence and Associates Best Financial and Farm Records – Shayne & Rochelle Hutchinson
DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Richard & Christine Sinclair
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Richard & Christine Sinclair
Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) Leadership Award – Kyle & Virginia Marshall
Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Kyran & Emma Brown
LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Shayne & Rochelle Hutchinson
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Mason Smith & Iona Cameron-Smith
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Kyran & Emma Brown
Westpac Business Performance Award – Shayne & Rochelle Hutchinson

Farm Manager Merit Awards:

MacDougalls Pride and Property Award – Michael & Susanna Booth
Essential Nutrition Aims and Attitudes Award – Matt Johnson & Kate Dudley
DairyNZ Human Resource Management Award – Jason Halford
RD1 Farm Management Award – Ewen Macdonald
Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Hamish Easton

Taranaki Dairy Awards Win Boosts Success

Entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has made the 2010 Taranaki Sharemilkers of the Year Greg and Hannah Topless’ sharemilking business more successful.

It was the third time they had entered the competition, saying each time they enter it helps them understand their business and what makes it successful.

“The preparation required forces you to take a long hard look at your operation. As a result you learn more, are more motivated and that spins off into decisions that you make in your business which in turn makes it more successful,” they say.

The Topless’ won $18,000 in cash and prizes when they were announced winners at the Taranaki Dairy Industry Awards gala dinner in the Stratford Memorial Hall last night.

The couple is 50% sharemilking 280 cows on a 96ha farm owned by Mark and Leigh Caskey at Toko. It is their sixth and last season sharemilking, as they have just bought their first farm.

They say they are focused and passionate about what they do. “We know where we are heading and have learnt lots along the way on how to achieve that. We worked hard to get to a position where we could go 50% sharemilking and we aggressively paid back principle on our loan, meaning our equity grew quickly.”

Opunake 50% sharemilkers Kurt and Katie-Rose Parry placed second in the Taranaki Sharemilker of the Year, winning $6700. Third place went to Gary and Sandra Fredrickson, 50% sharemilkers from Manaia. They won $6700, including merit awards.

The 2010 Taranaki Farm Manager of the Year title was won by 24-year-old contract milker Marc Jackson. He won $6000 in cash and prizes.

Mr Jackson is managing a 160ha Stratford farm owned by Mark and Shelia Masters, milking 450 cows.

He says a strength of his business is the rapport he has with his farm owner and staff, and he is helping to develop his farm worker from a trainee to potential manager. He aims to continue buying the Masters’ herd to go 50% sharemilking.

Kaponga farm managers Dion Dobson and Koryn Smith placed second in the farm manager competition, winning $4000.

The 2010 Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year is Dougan Butler, a 20-year-old farm assistant on a 176ha farm owned by Brian Giddy at Inglewood. Mr Butler won $3100.

It is Mr Butler’s second season in the dairy industry and he entered the awards to promote himself and meet like-minded people. He plans to go sharemilking in 2013 to build equity to his ultimate goal of farm ownership.

Inglewood farm assistant Samuel Humphreys, 26, placed second in the dairy trainee contest, winning $1000, and Opunake farm assistant Ernest Blom placed third, winning $800.

Taranaki Sharemilkers of the Year Greg and Hannah Topless will host a field day on March 19, while Taranaki Farm Manager of the Year Marc Jackson will host a field day on the Stratford farm he manages on March 26. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on this website.

Sharemilker Merit Awards:
• Reeves Middleton Young Communication Award – Greg & Hannah Topless
• Abacus Group Best Endeavour Award – Chris & Joelene Cox
• Variable Order Cup – Warren Patterson & Mary Rawson
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Gary & Sandra Fredrickson
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Gary & Sandra Fredrickson
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) Leadership Award – Greg & Hannah Topless
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Gary & Sandra Fredrickson
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Greg & Hannah Topless
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Greg & Hannah Topless
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Greg & Hannah Topless
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Kurt & Katie-Rose Parry

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
• Allied Farmers Outstanding Attitude Award – Dion Dobson & Koryn Smith
• DairyNZ Human Resource Management Award – Ian Butler
• RD1 Farm Management Award – Marc Jackson
• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Dion Dobson & Koryn Smith

Young Dairy Winners Set On Achieving Goals

In their second year entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards and aged just 22, Carterton lower order sharemilkers Clarence and Elise Stolte have won the Hawkes Bay Wairarapa Sharemilker of the Year title.

The couple was announced the winners at a gala dinner at the Copthorne Hotel Solway Park in Masterton last night, taking home $15,800 in cash and prizes.

The Stoltes are 25% sharemilking 480 cows on a 170ha farm owned by Clarence Stolte’s father, Willem Stolte. They are targeting production of 210,000kg milksolids this season.

They plan to move to 50% sharemilking next season and gain equity rapidly to pay off their herd, buy a support farm and then ultimately their own farm.

Given that Clarence Stolte completed a Diploma of Agriculture in 2005 and began working in the industry as a farm hand in 2006, their progress has been swift.

“A strength of our business is our combination of skills. Between us we allocate areas of management according to our strengths. This enables us to be successful and competent in all areas of our business.

“We also have a great working relationship with the farm owner and are working together on common farm goals which makes achieving them that much easier,” they say.

Second place in the Hawkes Bay Wairarapa Sharemilker of the Year went to Bryce and Kylie Baron, 50% sharemilking at Carterton, and third place went to Pahiatua 16% sharemilkers Kiel and Michelle Berry. The Baron’s won $5600 and the Berry’s won $4100 in cash and prizes.

The Hawkes Bay Wairarapa Farm Manager of the Year title went to Monty Monteith, who took home cash and prizes worth $10,800.

Mr Monteith, aged 38, is an equity farm manager for Dean Nikora, managing an 188ha farm milking 515 cows at Takapau. He is targeting 180,000kg milksolids this season.

It was the second time he had entered the competition, saying the feedback from judges had allowed he, and wife Michelle, to focus their efforts in this year’s contest. They would like to own their own farm one day.

“We both want to do the best job possible. We really enjoyed being part of the whole Dairy Industry Awards event and making the contacts we have.”

He says the farm has sound systems in place that are tried and true.

“Every aspect of the farm has set out procedures from the farm dairy wash down to paying the accounts on the 20th of each month. This allows for a very professional approach to farming and treating it all as a true business.”

Norsewood farm manager Craig Rosacker placed second, winning $3400 in prizes, and Greytown farm manager Harold Bosch placed third, collecting $3100.

The Hawkes Bay Wairarapa Dairy Trainee of the Year crown went to Darrell Rose, a 33-year-old dairy farm assistant on a 173ha Featherston farm owned by Alastair Hall.

Mr Rose, who won $2900, spent eight years in the New Zealand Police before beginning his dairy farming career in 2007. Since then he has moved to positions on larger farms each season, and he has already confirmed a move to Canterbury for the new season. With his wife Angela, they have goals to progress into sharemilking.

“I entered the competition to win, but I also saw it as a way to meet like-minded people in the industry and to promote myself to potential employers by showing that I have drive and confidence in my abilities.”

Scott Dormer, 22, a shed/herd manager from Featherston was placed second in the dairy trainee contest winning $500 and Ben Smith, a 21-year-old farm assistant from Takapau placed third winning $250.

Hawkes Bay Wairarapa Sharemilkers of the Year Clarence and Elise Stolte will host a field day on Tuesday March 16, while Hawkes Bay Wairarapa Farm Manager of the Year Monty Monteith will host a field day on the Takapau farm he manages on Tuesday March 23. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on this website.

Sharemilker Merit Awards:
• MacDougalls Best Variable Order Sharemilker – Clarence & Elise Stolte
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Kiel & Michelle Berry
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Shaun & Kate Mitchell
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) Leadership Award – Clarence & Elise Stolte
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Shaun & Kate Mitchell
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Clarence & Elise Stolte
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Bryce & Kylie Baron
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Clarence & Elise Stolte
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Bryce & Kylie Baron

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
• BEL Group Most Promising Manager – Harold Bosch
• DairyNZ Human Resource Management Award – Monty Monteith
• RD1 Farm Management Award – Monty Monteith
• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Monty Monteith

Judging Time for Dairy Awards Entrants

Regional judging is underway in the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, with the entrants hoping to demonstrate the type of skills, knowledge and leadership needed to impress.

The entrants are competing in the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions, run under the auspices of the dairy awards.

National Convenor Chris Keeping says on-farm judging for entrants in the Sharemilker of the Year and Farm Manager of the Year competitions began in late January and will continue throughout February for most entrants.

“The judges spend two hours on farm, so it pays for entrants to plan how they are going to use that time and to prepare well for the visit. It’s pretty easy to waste time and to think, after the judges have left, of all the things they should have told or could have showed the judges.”

Mrs Keeping says there are some tips judges have passed on that entrants may find useful to consider before judges visit.

· Read the judging criteria

· Get advice from past entrants about what to expect on the day

· Use your resources (information, data, business and farming professionals etc)

· Be original and unique

· Use all of the two hours

· Do a practice run-through

· Avoid distractions (telephones, children, pets etc).

She says entrants should also be aware that there have been some changes to the way judges evaluate some criteria in the human resource section of both competitions and the financial management section of the farm manager contest.

“We decided there needed to be changes in the human resources section as some of our sharemilker and farm manager entrants manage one or more staff while others have no staff responsibility at all.

“We also looked at the financial section in the farm manager competition as this is another area where there can be a wide variation in what farm managers are responsible for,” Mrs Keeping says.

“Our objective was to make the contests fairer for all entrants and for them not to feel disadvantaged if they did not employ staff or were not directly responsible for the finances of the farm they managed.”

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 Agriculture ITO.

There is no on-farm judging for entrants in the Dairy Trainee of the Year competition, where interview judging takes place in February.

The three winners in each of the 12 regional competitions will progress to the national finals being held in Rotorua in May this year. There they will compete for cash and prizes in excess of $100,000.

Entries Top 500 in Dairy Awards

A record number of 508 entries have been received in the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards – up from 399 received in the 2009 awards.

National Convenor Chris Keeping says organisers are overwhelmed with the interest in the awards’ three competitions – the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year.

“This is the third year we have run all three competitions under the awards umbrella and it is proving to be extremely effective in providing an avenue for passionate young, and not so young, dairy farmers to participate in order to progress their farming career.”

Mrs Keeping says the response to the dairy trainee contest has been particularly pleasing, with nearly 230 entries received – up from 150 received in 2009.

“It is a great result and shows the contest is attracting considerable interest from trainees keen to gain some benefits from having their skills recognised. The awards also give them an opportunity to meet other entrants and rural professionals that can help advance their career.

“The trainee entry numbers also bode well for the future of the awards, as we hope that these entrants enjoy the contest and consider entering one of our other competitions as they move up in the industry.”

She says nearly 150 people entered the farm manager contest and 133 entries were received in the more prestigious sharemilker competition when entries closed on Christmas Eve last year.

The entrants have entered one of 12 regional competitions being held around the country, with the first regional winners from Hawkes Bay Wairarapa to be announced on February 23.

The three winners from each region will then progress to the national final, to be held in Rotorua on May 15 this year.

Mrs Keeping says sharemilker and farm manager entrants will now be preparing for judges visits, with most judging taking place during February.

Further information on the awards can be on this website.

Entries to Close in Dairy Awards

Only a few days remain for those interested in entering the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, with entries closing Christmas Eve, December 24.

The awards run three competitions – the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions – with entrants first competing in one of 12 regional competitions. All three regional winners progress to a national final.

“Entrants gain from the experience of entering, through the knowledge shared by judges and other entrants and from the networks developed and opportunities realised to advance their careers,” National Convenor Chris Keeping says.

“The awards encourage best practice and the sharing of excellence. They also identify and promote the industry’s future leaders.”

The 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 Agriculture ITO.

Mrs Keeping says in 2010 entrants will be competing for more than $700,000 in cash and prizes on offer in the 12 regional competitions and the national final.

Organisers hope that more than 400 people will enter one of the three competitions.

Entry forms in the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards can be downloaded from this website.

Dairy Awards Entry Process Motivating

Entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards is an easy and thought provoking process that delivers immediate benefits, say the 2009 Sharemilkers of the Year, Chris and Teresa Moore.

People considering entering the awards – including the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year – have about one week remaining, with entries closing on Christmas Eve, December 24.

Teresa Moore describes the entry process as “quite harmless - it’s just form filling”.

“From a sharemilkers perspective, entering makes you have to write down some initial goals when you actually haven’t done this before. It becomes the beginning of your thought processes and it gets you motivated.”

Mrs Moore says the couple entered the competition twice. “We entered the first time as we were motivated by close friends who had entered and had success. We had seen how their success had assisted them."

“The other reason we entered was that we knew if we put th time into the competition – by sitting down and analysing our business and ourselves about where we are and what we want to be – that it would pay back.”

She says it disappoints them that they can no longer enter. “If Chris and I got the opportunity to enter the competition year after year we know it would drive our business.”

She is a strong advocate for people at all stages of their dairying career to enter and encourages people not to “sit on the fence” about entering.

National Convenor Chris Keeping says the 2010 entrants will be competing for more than $700,000 in cash and prizes on offer in the 12 regional competitions and the national final.

Entry forms in the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards can be downloaded from this website.

Dairy Awards Offer Early Bird Cash

A cash incentive of $1000 is being offered by organisers of the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards to those who enter by Tuesday December 15.

National Convenor Chris Keeping says early entrants in the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year or Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions will go into an Early Bird draw for the cash prize.

“We always have a late rush of entries, so we have decided to offer this incentive to encourage people to get in early and get some cash.”

To be eligible for the $1000 prize entries must be post marked by December 15 and contain a valid email address. Entrants must then also complete the entry process using the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards online system and go through to judging.

The dairy 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 Agriculture ITO.

Mrs Keeping says dairy farm workers interested in entering one of the 12 regional competitions being staged around the country have about one month left to enter, with entries closing on Christmas Eve, December 24.

She says organisers hope more than 400 people will enter one of the three competitions.

“There is some optimism in the dairy industry with milk payouts increasing, so we are hopeful that will flow through to record entries in our awards.

“It has been tough for the industry over the past couple of years with challenging climatic conditions coupled with low milk returns. Those that positioned themselves well over that period will now be reaping the benefits and we’d certainly like them to share their stories of success.”

Entry forms in the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards can be downloaded from this website.

Changes to Judging Criteria in Dairy Awards

Organisers of the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards have changed the way judges evaluate some criteria in the Sharemilker of the Year and Farm Manager of the Year competitions.

National Convenor Chris Keeping says that since entries had opened on November 1, organisers had received significant interest in the changes that have been made to the human resource management section in both contests and the financial management section of the farm manager contest.

The Dairy Awards runs three awards – the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year.

“We decided there needed to be changes in the human resource section as some of our sharemilker and farm manager entrants manage one or more staff while others have no staff responsibility at all.

“We also looked at the financial section in the farm manager competition as this is another area where there can be a wide variation in what farm managers are responsible for,” Mrs Keeping says.

She says those managing staff will be judged on the management and development of their staff, while those with no staff will be judged on other relationships such as those with their farm owner and rural professionals. In the farm manager contest, entrants with involvement in farm finances will be judged on planning and monitoring while those with no involvement will be judged on their understanding and awareness of effect on farm finances.

The changes do not affect the Dairy Trainee of the Year contest.

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 Agriculture ITO.

Entry forms can be downloaded from this website. Entries close on December 24.

Dairy Optimism Boosts Awards

Rising returns in the dairy industry are raising organisers hopes of record entries in the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.

“Fonterra’s latest payout announcement has boosted farmer optimism and helps to make people feel better about what they are doing on farm and how they are doing it,” National Convenor Chris Keeping says. “That also makes people more likely to want to enter one of our awards.”

Entries in the awards – the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year – are now open and close on December 24.

More than $700,000 in cash and prizes is on offer to entrants through 12 regional competitions and the national final, where the winners of each regional contest compete for national honours.

Ms Keeping says it is pleasing the dairy industry is recovering from the tough times of the past 18 months, as it had tightened the employment market and opportunities for progression.

“Renewed optimism is likely to mean increased job opportunities or investment in staff, so participation and ultimately success in the awards is likely to boost the prospects of dairy trainees, farm managers and sharemilkers keen to make the most of any opportunities.”

Nearly 400 people entered this year’s awards and Ms Keeping hopes more than 400 people will enter the 2010 awards.

Entry forms can be downloaded from this website.

Fonterra Chair Launches Regional Dairy Awards

Fonterra Chairman Sir Henry van der Heyden is guest speaker at the first of 12 special events to officially launch the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards regional competitions.

National Convenor Chris Keeping says the organising committee is pleased Sir Henry has accepted an invitation to speak at the Auckland Hauraki regional launch on a farm near Pokeno this Thursday (November 5).

Entries in the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, incorporating the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year, opened on November 1.

“Sir Henry’s attendance is a reflection in the way both he and Fonterra support the awards and their recognition of the awards as an important way to identify talented up-and-coming dairy farmers and future industry leaders.

“Our awards are integral to identifying excellence and promoting best practice among dairy farmers – as well as helping to provide an opportunity for passionate and aspiring farmers to progress their career through recognition and reward.”

Ms Keeping says awards entrants enter one of the 12 regional competitions, with all regional winners progressing to a national final to be held in Rotorua in May next year. Along the way they will compete for cash and prizes worth more than $700,000 nationwide.

The Auckland Hauraki regional launch is the first and has its own theme, Pathways to Success. It is being held on a Mangatangi farm near Pokeno, south of Auckland.

Other launches are being held in a new farm dairy, a robotic dairy, a research farm, at LIC’s headquarters, at an A&P Show, on dairy farms, in a golf club and in country pubs.

The 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 Agriculture ITO.

Entries open on November 1 and will close on December 24. Entry forms can be downloaded from this website.

Entires Open in Dairy Awards

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are now calling for entries in its 2010 competitions – the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year.

National Convenor Chris Keeping says organisers hope more than 400 sharemilkers, equity farm managers, contract milkers, farm managers and dairy trainees will enter one of the three competitions.

Ms Keeping says people first enter one of 12 regional competitions being held throughout the country, with the winners from each of the regional competitions all progressing to a national final. In 2010 the national final will be held in Rotorua in May.

“This is the third time we’ve run the three competitions under the same umbrella and the benefits are beginning to flow, as people are able to progress through the awards as they progress through the dairy industry.

“One of our farm manager winners in 2009 had previously been a dairy trainee winner. It’s our hope that people will recognise the benefits and experiences they gain from entering the dairy trainee or farm manager contest to then enter the farm manager or sharemilker competition as they advance their dairy career.”

She says entering the awards is great for a CV and it can also be lucrative. In 2010 entrants will compete for a total prize pool of more than $700,000 across the regional and national competitions.

“The sharemilker contest is the country’s longest-running dairy farming competition and over the years we have found that overwhelmingly people enter it for the experiences gained.

“They learn a lot – from judges, other entrants and industry or sponsor representatives – and gain skills and recognition that they would otherwise not receive,” Ms Keeping says.

Entries open on November 1 and will close on December 24. Entry forms can be downloaded from this website.

Manager Breaks Tradition In Dairy Awards

A farm manager is convening a regional competition in the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards for the first time, a role traditionally held by sharemilkers.

Shane Kelly is convening the West Coast Top of the South region in the awards, running the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions.

Mr Kelly won the 2009 New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year title after winning the West Coast Top of the South contest. The 2009 Canterbury North Otago Farm Manager of the Year, Matt Ward, is also a convenor in the competition although he is now a dairy farm owner.

“Both are obviously very talented and capable dairy farmers and managers, so we’re confident they’ll do a great job in their respective regions,” National Convenor Chris Keeping says.

“We have traditionally had winning sharemilkers volunteer for the convenors role, as we want to encourage as many people as possible to enter the competitions.

“We’re structuring Shane’s region so that if his dairy career progressed to sharemilking or equity management then he will still be eligible to enter the sharemilker competition at a later stage, if he chooses to.

“It’s important that the role he plays now doesn’t preclude him from participation at a later stage – that is why sharemilkers have traditionally held these roles.”

Ms Keeping says the 12 regional convenors, the awards’ management committee and sponsors are attending a conference in Rotorua next week to finalise plans for the 2010 competition.

“It’s a great opportunity to get to know each other better, canvass ideas and to share information on how best to run the regional competitions.”

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are run in 12 regions, with the winners from each region progressing to a national final. In 2010 the national final will be held in Rotorua in May.

The 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 Agriculture ITO.

Entries open on November 1 and will close on December 24. Further information can be obtained on this website.

The 2010 regional convenors are:

Northland – Dean & Tania Mischeski
Auckland Hauraki – Ciarán & Sarah Tully
Waikato – Brock & Janine Fiske
Bay of Plenty – John & Kim Wakefield
Central Plateau – Bryan & Tesha Gibson
Taranaki – Paul Davidson & Lorette Astwood-Davidson
Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua – Stefan & Hester Bryan
Hawkes Bay Wairarapa – Ben & Nicky Allomes
West Coast Top of the South – Shane & Karyn Kelly
Canterbury North Otago – Matt Ward & Amanda Wyatt
Otago – Mark & Kylie Watt
Southland – Stacey & Olivia Frost

Changes open up Sharemilker Contest

Changes to the 2010 New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year competition will open the contest to a wider group of potential entrants.

Organising Committee Chairman Matthew Richards says the committee has agreed on changes that will enable equity dairy farm managers to enter the sharemilker contest, so long as they own more than 25% and up to 50% of the business they are employed in.

"We've made the change to reflect the changing nature of employment structures in the dairy industry. There has been a noticeable increase in the number of aspiring dairy farmers moving from farm management direct to an equity farm ownership position rather than sharemilking.

"In most of these instances, the equity farm managers and sharemilkers have a similar amount invested in the dairy industry and similar goals to own their own farms," Mr Richards says.

The New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year competition is run by the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, along with the New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year. The awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, Honda, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner Agriculture ITO.

Mr Richards says the contest's rules had prevented equity managers from entering the sharemilker contest or had included them within the Farm Manager of the Year competition.

"It is obvious their level of skill, management and investment in the industry is more equal to sharemilkers."

He says the competition will continue to be called the Sharemilker of the Year, although that may change in the future should further changes occur to ensure the competition remains relevant in the evolving industry.

"We are being open-minded as to what the future may hold. Our key goal is to provide a forum where excellence in the industry is encouraged and recognised at every step along the way and support is given to help people achieve their farming goals."

Equity managers owning less than 25% of the business they are employed in will still be able to enter the farm manager contest.

Entries for the three competitions open on 1 November, with entry forms available on this website.

For Further Information:
Chris Keeping
National Convenor
021 425 791

New Chair for Dairy Awards

The new chair of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, Matthew Richards, is a role model for the saying give a job to a busy person and it will get done.

Mr Richards has taken on the role with some strong ideas on how the awards may need to evolve over the next few years to remain relevant to the industry.

He also recognises he has huge boots to fill, following in the footsteps of Greg Maughan who has chaired the awards since 2007 and has been involved in the Sharemilker of the Year competition every year since first entering in 1997.

Mr Richards says his passion for the awards was ignited in 2003 when he and wife Vanessa won the Southland Sharemilker of the Year title.

"It was only our second year sharemilking and winning the regional title really set us up – all of a sudden we could almost do what we wanted."

In 2004 he joined the Southland organising committee, before convening the Southland competition in 2005 and joining the national management committee in 2006.

Now he has the job to chair the voluntary team organising the 2010 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards that will culminate in a national awards dinner in Rotorua in May next year.

Mr Richards says the awards format and structure needs to evolve and that is likely to mean there will be some changes for the 2010 competitions – New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year.

"There will need to be some changes to the competition as the current format has been outgrown. As the awards are being driven from a volunteer base – and we don’t want to lose sight of that – we want them to have input into our strategy going forward."

He says the ideas he has will be discussed with the volunteer convenors from around the country at a conference in October. Then they will be confirmed and made public.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, Honda, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner Agriculture ITO.

As well as chairing the awards, Mr Richards’ oversees a Southland farming business milking more than 2500 cows on three neighbouring properties in varying structures. He is also the sharemilkers representative for Southland Federated Farmers, the Chair of Southland Agriculture ITO and on the HR committee for the Southland demonstration farm.

Mr Maughan remains on the committee, as treasurer.

Winners Show Dairy Farm Ownership Dream Alive

The winners in the 2009 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards show dreams of farm ownership can come true.

"For anyone who says you are not able to get to farm ownership any more, you only have to look at these guys and see they are on track," head judge and DairyNZ Consulting Officer Jo Deutz Ebeling says.

"You wouldn't think there is a global recession on. People talk about people being lucky, but these guys have created their own luck. Through good networking and being involved with the right people they have created opportunities for themselves."

Miss Deutz Ebeling says the 2009 New Zealand Sharemilkers of the Year Chris and Teresa Moore created their opportunities when applying for a variable order sharemilking position.

"They asked the farm owner if it would be possible to stipulate going from variable order to 50% sharemilking the following year and he agreed."

The Moores, representing the Central Plateau region, won $34,000 in cash and prizes for their win announced at the TSB Events Centre in Wellington last night.

They sharemilk 600 cows for Mark and Sophie Dibley at Ngongotaha, near Rotorua, and have a goal to grow their equity by 20% annually.

"They stood out in their financial presentation. They had clear goals and objectives and a great pathway on how they were going to achieve those goals. They also knew the areas of their business that they needed to work on."

Miss Deutz Ebeling says the Moores also demonstrate great leadership. "They work hard with their own staff, with the community and with the dairy industry.

"Chris and Teresa are behind a great initiative with Fonterra in trying to start a sharemilkers section so the company better understands sharemilkers issues. They work with the likes of IHC to get people on farms and they are involved in rural mentoring to help younger people.

"They are really just an amazing couple with infectious personalities."

Second place in the 2009 New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year contest went to Craig and Brooke Littin, representing the Waikato region where they 50% sharemilk on a 168ha farm near Putaruru. They won $16,000 in cash and prizes.

Miss Deutz Ebeling says the Littins had excellent farm hygiene and health and safety practices. "They have got great policies in place and had been audited by the European Union and passed with flying colours."

Matthew Gibson, representing the Hawkes Bay Wairarapa region, placed third winning $10,000 in cash and prizes. He 50% sharemilks 470 cows on his parents farm near Dannevirke.

"He had a great farm succession plan in place with his family and they have got some strict guidelines in place to make sure all parties are happy."

The 2009 New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year winner, Shane Kelly, and 2009 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year, Mark Nicholas, were also announced at the gala dinner.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to retired Massey University Dairy Professor Colin Holmes.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, Honda, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner Agriculture ITO.

The 2009 New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year, Shane Kelly, is an exceptional farmer who is making the most of his opportunities in the dairy industry, head judge Dave Whillans says.

Mr Kelly, 39, manages a 400ha Landcorp farm milking 1140 cows at Dobson, near Greymouth on the West Coast. He won $20,500 in cash and prizes.

"Shane showed a real passion for what he is doing. That came out on the farm through his presentation and in the interview. He is a knowledgeable, experienced operator who relates well to people."

Mr Whillans says Mr Kelly was the only finalist in the competition to score full marks in any of the judging criteria, in health and safety.

"The systems he has in place to monitor health and safety are exceptional and are backed up by what he is doing on the farm."

Waikato finalist Zarsha Osborne, 24, placed second, winning $8500 in cash and prizes. She is managing a 380-cow farm near Cambridge.

Mr Whillans says Ms Osborne's major strength is in her financial planning, enabling her to become a part owner in a dairy farm this coming season.

"She has done very well to advance that rapidly at a very young age."

Third place in the New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year competition went to Canterbury representative Matt Ward, who is managing a 1350-cow farm at Rakaia. He won $4000 in cash and prizes.

The 2009 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year, Mark Nicholas, 32, is leap-frogging in the industry. With less than two years experience in the industry, he has secured a 280-cow sharemilking position beginning next month.

Mr Nicholas, who won $3000, is currently an assistant farm manager on a 140ha Whakatane farm milking 500 cows.

Southland dairy trainee Adam Waite was highly commended.

Further details on the winners can be found on our Photo Gallery page.

Sharemilker Merit Awards:

DairyNZ Interview Award – Chris & Teresa Moore
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Craig & Brooke Littin
Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) Leadership Award – Chris & Teresa Moore
LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Matthew Gibson
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Simon & Claire Light
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – John & Kim Wakefield
Westpac Business Performance Award – Rowan & Rachel Baker

Farm Manager Merit Awards:

DairyNZ Human Resource Management Award – Phil Moeke
Fonterra Interview Award – Shane Kelly
RD1 Farm Management Award – Shane Kelly
Westpac Financial and Planning Award – Zarsha Osborne

For further information:
Chris Keeping
National Convenor
021 425 791