Taranaki Winners Reflect on Positive Dairy Awards

Taranaki Winners Reflect on Positive Dairy Awards Experience

The 2010 Taranaki Sharemilkers of the Year Greg and Hannah Topless still feel ‘warm fuzzies’ when they reflect on their experiences in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.

The couple placed third in the national final of the 2010 New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year competition, winning three merit awards for their leadership, farm dairy hygiene and recording and productivity.

Plans for the 2011 awards are well underway, with some major changes to the awards’ three competitions – the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year – being announced at a special launch on October 4.

Greg and Hannah Topless have enjoyed being able to share their experiences recently to groups like Federated Farmers.

“The primary reason we entered was to benchmark our own business against everyone else, so that we could move our business forward.”

They credit their participation in the awards – they entered three times – for helping them achieve their farm ownership goal faster. On June 1 they moved onto their first farm at Kaponga, milking 120 cows.

“It has also been quite lucrative and we have been able to knock off some of our farm working expenses,” Hannah Topless says.

Another key benefit from entering is being able to network with other entrants, sponsors and organisers.

“It can be very easy to be negative about the dairy industry but if you are around these people it really boosts you and keeps you motivated.”

She says entering the awards also helps to refocus goals. “It forces you to sit down with your partner and focus on your vision and goals. For us, we have had these goals but we have remained flexible as well – if you remain rigid then you may lose opportunities.”

Hannah Topless’ advice to people considering entering is to begin planning now.

“If people are serious about entering the awards, they should start thinking about getting their judges presentation together now. A picture can say 1000 words, so take a picture of you doing various roles on the farm.”

Entries in the 2011 awards open on November 1, with the national awards final being held in Queenstown in May next year.

The awards are sponsored by Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner Agriculture ITO.

Further information on the awards can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media