Media Releases
Winners Show Dairy Farm Ownership Dream Alive
16 May 2009
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."
"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
Media Archive
Subscribe to Updates
Get the Latest Media Releases and Competition Updates with our RSS FEEDS:
