The winners of the 2026 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards were announced at the annual awards dinner held at the Sir Don Rowlands Events Centre in Cambridge on Wednesday evening.
Glenn and Georgie van Heuven were named the region’s Share Farmer of the Year, with Annie Gill winning the 2026 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year, and Levi Wesford taking out the title for the 2026 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year.
The 2026 Waikato Share Farmers of the Year have used their farming backgrounds and degrees to work their way toward farm ownership.
Glenn and Georgie van Heuven won $17,211 on the night along with four merit awards.
Glenn, 37, and Georgie, 36, are sharemilking 405 cows on 103ha for Sid and Dellas Anderton at Matamata.
Both studied a Bachelor of Applied Science at Massey University majoring in Agriculture, with Georgie adding a second major of Property Valuation and Management and a Postgrad Diploma in Agribusiness.
Glenn has worked his way up the farming ladder with Georgie now working as a rural bank manager.
The couple have managed to secure a 50% equity partnership in a farm for next season.
“We are really excited for this opportunity. We want to be in the top 20% of operators in the dairy industry.
“We genuinely love farming, the opportunities it brings and the farming community is like no other. In our hardest times we have always been well supported by other farmers and the wider farming community.”
Runner-up in the Waikato Share Farmer was Deependra Parajuli. The 50-year-old is sharemilking for Jeanette and Trevor Clubb, milking 193 cows on 60ha at Waitoa.
Deependra emigrated from Nepal in 2006 and started a career in farming and is proud to have achieved his goal of sharemilking.
“I’m motivated by the opportunity to improve and grow – whether that’s my herd’s performance, systems, or my own skills.”
Deependra won two merit awards and took home $13,217.
Third place was awarded to Emma Walton, 26, and Jared Van Tiel, 28.
The couple are sharemilking 420 cows on 147ha for Burton Trust at Puketaha. They won $10,230 and one merit award.
The couple pride themselves on putting people and animals first.
“Farming keeps you humble, you will never know everything, no matter how long we are in the industry we will constantly be learning new things.”
The title for 2026 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year was awarded to Annie Gill.
The 24-year-old is farm manager for Doug and Lorraine Courtman on their 56ha farm at Otorohanga milking 144 cows.
Annie grew up on a farm with a pedigree dairy herd and is back to living amongst the black and white cows she loves.
“Cows, cows, cows, cows. I’ve always had a shared passion of pedigree cows with my Dad. I’m now lucky enough to live my passion every day. I love genetics, breeding, stockwork and seeing our stock do well for other people.”
Annie has a goal to be sharemiking in the next two years with a plan for selling some of her Holsteins to build her equity.
Judges commented Annie has a clear, realistic and well-structured pathway toward future progression.
“She demonstrated excellent financial literacy, with a strong understanding of her current position.”
Annie won $7,896 in prizes along with three merit awards.
Runner-up in the Dairy Manager Category is Danielle Brown who won $4,611 and two merit awards.
The 25-year-old is farm manager for Steph and Lance Key on Sue Broomfield’s 68ha farm at Morrinsville, milking 230 cows.
Danielle studied a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Massey University and worked for a short stint as a rural professional before getting a job working on farm.
“I really like the mix of practical and theory working on farm.”
Third place went to George Eaddy who works for Kevin and Cherie van der Poel on their 95ha farm at Ohaupo, milking 390 cows.
The city kid turned farmer is excited to grow his own farming business with his family and advocate for other city kids to make a career out of dairy farming.
“People are always going to need the goodness of dairy.”
George won $3,436 along with one merit award.
The 2026 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year Levi Wesford is focused on efficiency and using technology to achieve it.
The 20-year-old is assistant manager for Matthew Weatherland, milking 220 cows on 100ha at Cambridge.
Coming runner-up in the category last year, Levi was keen to put his new knowledge and skills to the test again this year.
“The awards are a great opportunity to network with rural professionals and leading farmers within the dairy industry.”
Levi didn’t come from a farming background but got an opportunity to relief milk and turned the opportunity into a full-time position.
“I want to set myself up with a skillset to run my own business and eventually my own farm.”
Levi won $7,621 in prizes along with two merit awards on the night.
Runner-up this year in the Dairy Trainee category is Abigail McLean. The 22-year-old won $3,121 and one merit award.
She is herd manager for Jag Singh milking 230 cows on 80ha at Morrinsville, moving up to assistant manager next season.
Abigail chose farming as career because of her love of working with animals and working outside.
“I love the responsibility that comes with caring for stock and running parts of a farm, and the satisfaction of seeing the results of the work you put in.”
She’s excited to see farming becoming smarter with technology helping farmers make better decisions to improve animal welfare and run farms more sustainably.
Third place was awarded to 23-year-old Renee Teers who took home $2,661.
Renee is farm assistant on Acacia Farms, owned by Nigel and Monica Anderson and Tony and Christine Muller. The 165ha Pukeatua farm milks 465 cows.
Renee has jumped from being an Equine Sports Massage Therapist into dairy farming and has a longterm goal of herd ownership.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors ASB, CowManager, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Honda, LIC, Power Farming and Trelleborg, along with industry partners Fonterra, DairyNZ, and The Country.
The Waikato Dairy Industry Awards Field Day will be held on 24 March at 10.30am, 173B Tower Road, Matamata, 3471, RD1, Fonterra S/N 77376.
Further details on the winners and the Field Day can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz
Results of the 2026 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards:
2026 Waikato Share Farmer of the Year
Winner – Georgie & Glenn van Heuven
Runner Up – Deependra Parajull
Third – Emma Walton & Jared Van Tiel
2026 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year
Winner – Annie Gill
Runner Up – Danielle Brown
Third – George Eaddy
2026 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year
Winner – Levi Wesford
Runner Up – Abigail McLean
Third – Renee Teers
Share Farmer Merit Awards:
· DairyNZ - People & Culture Award Abby Lawrence
· Ecolab Total Farm Hygiene & Innovation Award Georgie & Glenn van Heuven
· Federated Farmers Leadership Award Georgie & Glenn van Heuven
· Honda Farm Safety, Health & Biosecurity Award Georgie & Glenn van Heuven
· LIC - Animal Wellbeing, Recording and Productivity Award Emma Walton & Jared Van Tiel
· Bluegrass Contracting Environmental Sustainability Award Georgie & Glenn van Heuven
· Trelleborg Sustainable Pasture Award Deependra Parajuli
· ASB Business Performance Award Dee[emdra Parajuli
· Greenstone Immigration and Recruitment Emerging Talent Award Sicelo Nene
Dairy Manager Merit
· CowManager Livestock Management Award George Eaddy
· Fonterra Dairy Management Award Annie Gill
· DeLaval Pasture & Feed Management Award Annie Gill
· MPI Sustainable Farming - Environmental Award Danielle Brown
· Dairy Training Limited People & Leadership Award Danielle Brown
· CooperAitken Accountants Personal Planning & Financial Management Award Annie Gill
· NZ Farmers Livestock Ltd Emerging Talent Award Conrad Addison
Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:
· DairyNZ Practical Skills Award Levi Wesford
· Xero Limited NZ Emerging Talent Award Rebeccca Hurley
· DairySmart Farming Knowledge Award Levi Wesford
· BlackmanSpargo Rural Law Ltd Communication & Industry Involvement Award Abigail McLean
ENDS
For further information contact;
SHERYL HAITANA
NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
NZDIA
021 2391633
