Dairy Industry Awards - Auckland/Hauraki, Waikato

[Waikato results below]

Media release: Auckland Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards

Strictly Embargoed to 11pm 2 March 2007
THAMES SHAREMILKERS TAKE OUT SUPREME AUCKLAND/HAURAKI title

Thames sharemilkers Dan and Sarah Murdock from Waitakaruru were named 2007 Auckland/Hauraki Sharemilker of the Year at the inaugural Dairy Industry Awards at a function in Hamilton tonight.

The couple are 50:50 sharemilkers, milking 195 cows on a 70 effective hectare property owned by the LHR Robinson Trust. They are on target for production of 63,000kg/ms for year ended May 31, 2007.

It is the couple’s first year sharemilking. They say their long term goals include acquiring a second job, investing in more property and building their equity.

Dan and Sarah will now go forward to represent Auckland/Hauraki in the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year national final to be held in Invercargill on May 12, competing for a national prize pool of nearly $75,000.

They will be joined by Ross Conder, from Hikutaia who won the Auckland/Hauraki Farm Manager of the Year title who will vie for the national Farm Manager of the Year title.

The joint winners of the East Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year announced at the awards were Zarsha Osborne and Carlos Delos Santos. They win a study trip to Australia.

It is the first time the three awards, representing progression through the dairy industry, have come under one umbrella. They have the support of sponsors
Westpac, Dairy InSight, Fonterra, RD1 LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, Federated Farmers, Ecolab, Honda and ACC, along with industry partner Dexcel.

Runners up in the Auckland Hauraki Sharemilker of the Year were Steve and Andrea Mills from Pukekohe. Third place went to Stefan and Annalize du Plessis from Hikutaia.

Runners up in the Auckland Hauraki Farm Manager of the Year were Barry McTamney and Nicky Marshall from Ngatea.

A field day will be held on winning Murdock’s farm located at Mahuta Road North at Waikataruru on March 15

A field day will be held at Ross Conder’s farm at 364 Maratoto Road, Hikutaia on 22 March.

Other results included

Farm Manager of the Year Merit Awards
Dairy InSight Human Resource Management Award Barry McTamney and Nicky Marshall
RD1 Farm Management Award Denis Carey
Westpac Farm Financial Management Award Ross Conder
Sharemilker of the Year Merit Awards
Greenlea Premier Meats Integrity Award Jacco and Carmen Verheij
ACC Workplace Safety Discounts Award Rene and Ereine Vos
Blue Wing Honda ATV Safety Award Rene and Ereine Vos
Dairy InSight First Time entrant Award Dan and Sarah Murdock
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award Stefan and Annalize du Plessis
Federated Farmers Leadership Award Steve and Andrea Mills
LIC Recording and Productivity Award Dan and Sarah Murdock
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award Gerard and Nicola Strange
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award Steve and Andrea Mills
Westpac Business Performance Award Dan and Sarah Murdock

For further information:
www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz

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Media release: Waikato Dairy Industry Awards

Strictly Embargoed to 11pm 3 March 2007
MATAMATA SHAREMILKERS TAKE OUT SUPREME WAIKATO TITLE

Matamata sharemilkers Craig and Hannah Fulton were named 2007 Waikato Sharemilker of the Year at the inaugural Dairy Industry Awards at a function in Hamilton tonight.

The couple are 50:50 sharemilkers, milking 356 cows on a 108 effective hectare property owned by Peter and Joan de Renzy. They are on target for production of 115,000kg/ms for year ended May 31, 2007.

The couple share the business with Craig taking care of day-to-day management and decision-making at all levels, while Hannah is responsible for administration including herd records and financials. Both are actively involved in dairy industry initiatives such as Dairy InSight’s Go Dairy campaign.

The couple’s long term goals include consolidation and debt reduction, off farm investments and increasing their herd.

Craig and Hannah will now go forward to represent Waikato in the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year national final to be held in Invercargill on May 12, competing for a national prize pool of nearly $75,000.

They will be joined by Eon Wallace, from Cambridge who won the Waikato Farm Manager of the Year title who will vie for the national Farm Manager of the Year title.

The winner of the West Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year announced at the awards was Jimmy Gerritsen who wins a study trip to Australia.

It is the first time the three awards, representing progression through the dairy industry, have come under one umbrella. They have the support of sponsors
Westpac, Dairy InSight, Fonterra, RD1 LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, Federated Farmers, Ecolab, Honda and ACC, along with industry partner Dexcel.

Runners up in the Waikato Sharemilker of the Year were Jason and Lisa Suisted from Morrinsville. Third place went to Alastair Hall from Cambridge.

Runner up in the Farm Manager of the Year was Justin Edgecombe from Ngatea.

The Sharemilker of the Year field day will be held on the Fulton’s farm at 462 Puketutu Road, RD2 Matamata on March 27.

A field day will be held on Eon Wallace’s farm at 418 Wallace Road, RD3 Cambridge on March 20.

Other results included

Farm Manager of the Year Merit Awards
Effluent and Irrigation Services Environment Awareness Award David Fisher
Dairy InSight Human Resource Management Award Eon Wallace
RD1 Farm Management Award Justin Edgecombe
Westpac Farm Financial Management Award Eon Wallace
Sharemilker of the Year Merit Awards
Animal Health Centre Animal Health and Welfare Chris and Vicki Thompson
Harcourts Kevin Deane Real Estate Best Endeavour Myron Horsford
Waikato Farmers Variable Order Award Alastair Hall
ACC Workplace Safety Discounts Award Jason and Lisa Suisted
Blue Wing Honda ATV Safety Award Craig and Hannah Fulton
Dairy InSight First Time entrant Award Jason and Lisa Suisted
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award Stephen and Janne Shaw
Federated Farmers Leadership Award Craig and Hannah Fulton
LIC Recording and Productivity Award Jason and Lisa suisted
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award Craig and Hannah Fulton
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award Alastair Hall
Westpac Business Performance Award Craig and Hannah Fulton

ENDS

For further information:
www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz

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