New Year’s Resolution To Enter Awards
Organisers of the 2009 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards suggest sharemilkers, farm managers and dairy trainees should
make it their New Year’s resolution to enter the awards and progress their dairying career.
Awards convenor Chris Keeping says entries in the awards, comprising the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the
Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year, close on January 9.
“The dairy industry is suffering the effects of the global credit crunch that has forced Fonterra and Westland Dairies
to slash milk payout forecasts.
“It’ll be quite a worrying time for dairy farmers as costs have increased considerably in the past few years and many
have borrowed heavily to expand.
“Now they’ll be looking at where they can cut costs and make their operation more efficient as well as increasing
productivity. They’ll need good staff in order to do this and that’s why entering and then working hard to do well in
the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards is a good strategy to employ right now.”
Ms Keeping says entering the awards is a positive move and an achievable New Year’s resolution for dairy farmers to
make.
The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, Honda, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers,
Fonterra, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner Agriculture ITO.
She says entries are invited for the three awards within the 12 regional competitions that cover the entire country.
The regional competitions can offer prize pools in excess of $50,000, with the three regional winners all progressing to
the national finals and the opportunity to be named New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the
Year or New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year.
Entry forms are available from regional convenors or sponsors and can be downloaded from the awards website, www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
ENDS