Dairy Trainee Finalists Begin Study Tour

8 May 2012

Dairy Trainee Finalists Begin Study Tour

The 12 finalists in the 2012 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competition begin a study tour of the Waikato today, visiting farms, participating in team building exercises, taking part in judging components and learning how to set and achieve goals.

“The trainee tour is packed full of activities giving the trainees an opportunity to get to know each other, learn more about the industry and have some fun. It’s become a highlight of the trainee’s experience in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards,” national convenor Chris Keeping says.

The winner of the New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year contest will be announced at the national awards dinner in Auckland on Saturday night. The winners of the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year and New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year titles will also be announced, with nearly $140,000 in cash and prizes given away.

The Dairy Industry 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.

Mrs Keeping says the study tour begins tonight with a judging component. During the following two days the trainees will participate in a team building and initiative exercise, visit the farm of 2011 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year Jason and Lisa Suisted, visit a robotic farm, the LIC bull farm, and hear positive and realistic examples of achieving goals from past winners of the awards.

“These 12 finalists represent the best from about 220 entrants in the trainee competition from throughout the country.

“Our judging process tests the trainee finalists on their general farming knowledge and skills while the awards programme gives those passionate to progress in the industry with an opportunity to prove their abilities to themselves and prospective employers.

“Despite their young age, our finalists are committed to the dairy industry and are focused on how they can prosper.”

She says the finalists comprise three women and nine men and range in age from 19 years to 31 years. They vary in their dairy farming experience. Three finalists are in their first season in the industry while the most experienced, Northland herd manager Benson Horsford, has been in the industry seven years.

Six entered the awards for the first time, while for the other six it is their second time entering the awards.

“Many trainees enter the awards to raise their profile and progress their career, but they also enter to meet other trainees and have a bit of fun. We try to make the social functions associated with the awards enjoyable and plan the study tour to challenge and stimulate them.”

The 2012 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists:

• Auckland Hauraki – Kylie Dunlop, aged 31, assistant 600 cows, Mercer
• Bay of Plenty – Brandon Law, 19, assistant 185 cows, Whakatane
• Canterbury North Otago – Nathan Christian, 22, assistant 800 cows, Ashburton
• Central Plateau – Emily Fiddis, 25, assistant 830 cows, Tokoroa
• Hawkes Bay Wairarapa – Dyana Barnes, 23, assistant 670 cows, Featherston
• Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua – Shane True, 21, assistant 570 cows, Kiwitea
• Northland – Benson Horsford, 28, herd manager 340 cows, Maromaku
• Otago – Richard Lang, 28, assistant 600 cows, Stirling
• Southland – Robert Ankerson, 23, assistant 920 cows, Winton
• Taranaki – Mark Duynhoven, 25, assistant, 700 cows, New Plymouth
• Waikato – Mark Jacobs. 25, herd manager 400 cows, Cambridge
• West Coast Top of The South – Michael Shearer, 19, assistant 310 cows, Nelson.

ENDS

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