More Than 100 Enter Dairy Awards in 1st Week

8 November 2011

More Than 100 Enter Dairy Awards in 1st Week

More than 100 entries have been received in the 2012 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, since entries opened just one week ago.

National convenor Chris Keeping says 105 online entries had been received in the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions.

“It’s been exactly one week since entries opened and we’re overwhelmed by the response. We’ve received nearly 20 more entries than the same time last year when we had received 86 entries and the numbers are well ahead of previous years.”

Mrs Keeping says 19 entries had been received to date in the sharemilker contest, 36 in the farm manager contest and 50 in the dairy trainee.

“The other exciting bit about the entries so far is that for three-quarters of them (72), it is their first time entering the dairy industry awards. That’s great for the future of the awards and for the benefit of the entrants, who gain so much from the process of entering and meeting other entrants.”

She says organisers hope the interest continues. Those that enter by December 1 will also be eligible to win one of three Honda XR125 Duster farm bikes, each valued at nearly $4000. There will be one drawn from early entrants in each of the three contests.

The awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner AgITO.

About 500 entries were received in the 2011 awards and Mrs. Keeping says organisers expect a similar number will enter the 2012 awards before entries close on December 20.

Entries are being received online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

ENDS

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