Pukehina Sharemilkers Take Out Bay Of Plenty Title

Pukehina Sharemilkers Take Out Bay Of Plenty Title

Pukehina sharemilkers Kelly (36) and Karen (34) Shaw have been declared 2005 Bay of Plenty Sharemilkers of the Year at an awards function in Te Puke tonight.

The Shaws are 50:50 sharemilkers, milking 650 cows on 179 effective hectares owned by Landcorp Farming Ltd. Their production for the 2003/04 season was 1225kg/ms/ha.

Kelly and Karen believe good people and communication skills mean they can effectively manage their staff, and attention to setting and achieving budgets has resulted in successful financial management.

It was the couple’s fourth attempt for the title. They say benefits gained have included an opportunity to benchmark themselves against other sharemilkers, networking, and meeting other positive, like-minded people.

Kelly grew up on a dairy farm but trained as a mechanic before entering the dairy industry in 1996. After contract milking for two years Kelly bought his own herd in 2000, and began 50:50 sharemilking 220 cows, steadily building up to a 650-strong herd.

The Shaws’ interests include squash, fishing and mountain biking with their three children, Matthew (7), Deanna (5) and Nathan (2). Their eventual goal is land ownership.

They also won the Edgecumbe Veterinary Services Contribution to the Community Award, the RSL Chartered Accountants Business Management Award, the Ravensdown Pasture Management Award, and the Bank of New Zealand Financial Management Award.

Runners up in the event was Jared Watson from Opotiki, with third place going to John and Kim Wakefield from Whakatane.

The Shaws will now represent the Bay of Plenty at the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year Awards in Hamilton on May 7, competing for a national prize pool of $63,000.

The 2005 New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year Competition is run in association with Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc) and sponsored by Dairy InSight, ACC, Bank of New Zealand, Blue Wing Honda, Dexcel, Ecolab, Fonterra, Livestock Improvement and Ravensdown.

Regional convenors Shelley and Craig Strawbridge, who won the regional title last year, congratulated all entrants on taking part.

“Having been involved ourselves we know they will have benefited from the experience. We wish them all well and will be cheering on Kelly and Karen in Hamilton in May,” Shelley Strawbridge says.

A field day will be held on the winner’s farm at Wharere Road, Te Puke, Supply Number 21554 on April 7.

Other results were:

Farmlands Te Puke Outstanding Endeavour Award: Jared Watson (Opotiki)

Environment Bay of Plenty Environment Award: Peter and Jenny Sinclair (Whakatane)

Te Puke Vet Centre and Ancare Best Stock Management Award: John and Kim Wakefield (Whakatane)

Bay of Plenty Sharemilker Subsection Runner Up Variable Order Sharemilker Award: John and Andrea Winmill (Te Puke)

Whakatane Federated Farmers Variable Order Sharemilker Award: Jason and Leonie Wakefield (Whakatane)

Dairy Insight First Time Entrant Award: Jared Watson (Opotiki)

Livestock Improvement Best Herd Records Award: Peter and Jenny Sinclair (Whakatane)

Ecolab Farm Dairy Environment Award: John and Andrea Winmill (Te Puke)

ACCThinksafe Farm Safety Award: Peter and Jenny Sinclair (Whakatane)

Blue Wing Honda ATV Safety Award: Peter and Jenny Sinclair (Whakatane)

Federated Farmers Leadership Award: Chris and Jodi Ford (Whakatane)