Suisteds Enjoy Spin-Offs From Dairy Awards Success

For Immediate Release

29 August 2011

Suisteds Enjoy Spin-Offs From Dairy Awards Success

Success at the 2011 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has broadened Jason and Lisa Suisted's perspective of the country's dairy industry and propelled their sharemilking business forward.

The Waikato couple won the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title at the national awards dinner in May and has since embraced the opportunities they have received to be exposed to other facets of the industry, and the people involved.

Lisa Suisted says winning the title on their third time entering was a dream. "Once you get involved in the dairy awards and start the process, it's addictive. You can see your systems becoming more refined, your business improving and the financials flowing from that."

A highlight since the Suisted's win in Queenstown has been attending industry dinners, including Federated Farmers Cream of the Crop dinner. "We have met people and done all sorts of things that we wouldn't have normally been exposed to.

"It's great to be a part of the dairy awards and go to these other dinners as there is so much positive reinforcement happening in the dairy industry behind the scenes that in our day-to-day life on the farm we would never have been exposed to."

The couple has also realised a goal to increase their 400-cow 50% sharemilking business sooner than anticipated, thanks to their win. The couple now plans to double their herd size to 800 to 1000 cows by the beginning of next season.

"We really believe sharemilking is alive and well in New Zealand and it's the path we are going to continue down."

Just over 10 years ago, Jason Suisted was a builder and foreman for a building company and Lisa Suisted was a hairdresser with her own salon. They chose to enter the dairy industry - rather than the building industry - as they thought it would be better for their family. The couple has three young children, Ryan, aged six, Fern, two, and Beau, three months.

"We love kids and this is such a great industry to raise a family."

The awards, also including the Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions, are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner Agriculture ITO.

Preparations are underway for the 2012 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards programme, with a launch planned for Monday September 26. Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for more information.

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