Sharemilker Winners Benchmark Their Business
Taranaki Sharemilker of the Year winners Peter and Tanya Ford say the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year competition
has given them valuable insights and exposure to progress in their sharemilking career.
The couple won the Taranaki regional prize, as well as two merit awards - the Bank of New Zealand Financial Award and
the Ravensdown Pasture Management Award - to take home prizes worth almost $13,000 from the awards evening at the
Stratford Town Hall last night. (March 14).
"We entered the competition so we could benchmark ourselves against other sharemilkers and constructively scrutinise our
business from a different perspective," they say.
The Fords have been 50:50 sharemilking for the past three years, after lower order sharemilking for the previous seven
years. They run a 290 strong herd on an 81 hectare Manaia property owned by Harry and Helen Bayliss.
They will now progress to the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year final in Auckland on May 3, where they will compete
for a total prize pool worth more than $60,000.
ACC, Blue Wing Honda, Bank of New Zealand, Fonterra, Livestock Improvement, Ravensdown, Ecolab, RD1, Dairy InSight and
Dexcel sponsor the competition.
The Ford's say that the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year Competition, run in association with Federated Farmers of
New Zealand Inc, has allowed them to gain a clearer picture of their business and form a network of contacts.
"The competition has provided some very helpful insights into self-marketing. The exposure that you get through the
competition can really advance your career.
"We have also been able to meet our peers and compare notes. Overall, we've really been able to improve our business
through entering the competition."
The Fords' long-term goal is to progress through the sharemilking system to the point of farm ownership, without
compromising their lifestyle.
Rodney and Melissa McQuaig of New Plymouth were placed second, with Steven Whittaker and Frances Forster of Urenui
coming third.
Christopher and Catherine Cook of Manaia won the Variable Percentage Prize valued at more than $2000.
Merit Award Recipients: * Daily News/ Thursday Farmer Attitude Award - Steven Whittaker and Frances
Forster * Staples Rodway Chartered Accountants Communication Award - Christopher and Catherine Cook *
Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Award - Craig and Rachel Dettling * Taranaki Best Endeavour Award -
Ryan and Katrina Corbett * ACC Thinksafe Farm Safety Award - Craig and Rachel Dettling * Blue
Wing Honda ATV Safety Award - Leighton and Danelle King * Dairy InSight First Time Entrant Award - Vaughan and
Helen Jones * Federated Farmers Leadership Award - Mark and Louise Jellyman * Ecolab Farm Dairy
Environment Award - Rodney and Melissa McQuaig * BNZ Financial Management Award - Peter and Tanya Ford *
Ravensdown Pasture Management Award - Peter and Tanya Ford * LIC Best Herd Records Award - Tony and Lesley
Landers