Dairy Awards Entries Closing

For Immediate Release

6 January 2009

DAIRY AWARDS ENTRIES CLOSING

Entries in the 2009 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, incorporating the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions close on Friday (January 9).

National Convenor Chris Keeping says time is running out for those interested in entering one of the 12 regional competitions being staged around the country. Up to $50,000 in cash and prizes is on offer to the regional competition winners as well as the opportunity to represent the region in the national finals.

“There are a huge amount of benefits to be gained by entering the competition, from gaining a good reputation to meeting new people and collecting some valuable prizes.”

Ms Keeping says the global economic crisis has had a dramatic effect on the dairy industry in the past few months and this had dampened optimism.

“I am still hopeful that we will meet our entry targets and, through entering the competitions, assist hundreds of ambitious young dairy farmers to gain the confidence and support needed to take the next step in their dairying career.

“The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are all about identifying and promoting the industry’s best and brightest. The dairy industry has a well known pathway from dairy farm trainee on to farm owner and these awards seek to recognise those outstanding performers in each part of that progression as well as those doing an excellent job.”

The 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.

The 2009 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards national finals will be held in Wellington on May 16.

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

ENDS

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