Media release
Taranaki Sharemilker of the Year
Supreme Sharemilkers to Represent Taranaki
Rahotu sharemilkers Craig (31) and Lucy Bradley (30) were named 2006 Taranaki Sharemilker of the Year at an awards event
in Stratford tonight.
The Bradleys are 50:50 sharemilkers of a 120 effective hectare farm owned by E.T.M. Farms. They are on target to produce
118,000 kg/ms for the 2005/06 season.
It is the first time the couple have entered the competition in which won prizes to the value of $15,000 including the
Bank of New Zealand Financial Management merit award.
Craig has been in the dairy industry since leaving school at the age of 17. He has held various positions, most recently
a variable order contract with Brian and Susan Bradley, before his current job.
Lucy was formerly a primary school teacher in Stratford and Hawera as well as the UK. After she and Craig married two
years ago, she also joined the dairy industry.
Craig and Lucy believe their business strengths are based on good teamwork, driving towards farm ownership through good
on farm performance and management.
“We also work to set ‘smart goals’ and achieve these through regular monitoring,” the couple say.
The Bradleys aim to use all the resources available to them; to sustainably achieve high production and profit and to
continue their education and understanding of the developments within the industry.
When not at work on the farm, Craig likes to go duck shooting, hunting and fishing while Lucy’s interests are in horse
riding, horticulture and the environment.
Craig and Lucy will now go forward to represent Taranaki in the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year national final to be
held in Christchurch on May 13, competing for a national prize pool of nearly $60,000.
The 2006 New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year Competition is run in association with Federated Farmers of New Zealand
(Inc) and is sponsored by Dairy InSight, ACC, Bank of New Zealand, Blue Wing Honda, Dexcel, Ecolab, Fonterra, Livestock
Improvement and Ravensdown.
Runners up in the competition were Vaughan and Helen Jones from Toko with third place going to Gavin and Debbie Stratton
from Pungarehu.
Other results in the Taranaki event were:
Dairy InSight first time entrant award Trent and Pip Olliver
Federated Farmers Leadership Award Gary and Sandra Fredrickson
ACC Thinksafe Sharemilker Award Craig Litton and Brooke Phelan
Bank of New Zealand Financial Management Award Craig and Lucy Bradley
Blue Wing Honda ATV Safety Award Heydon Paul and Sara Edwards
Ecolab Farm Dairy Environment Award Craig Littin and Brooke Phelan
LIC Best Herd Records Award Gavin and Debbie Stratton
Ravensdown Pasture Management Award Craig Littin and Brooke Phelan
VARIABLE ORDER 1st PLACE Craig Littin and Brooke Phelan
VARIABLE ORDER 2nd PLACE Ben and Kelly Frederickson
VARIABLE ORDER 3rd PLACE = Tony Miles and Vicki Barnes
VARIABLE ORDER 3rd PLACE = Peter and Frances Cooper
ENDS