Great Start for 2014 Dairy Awards

Great Start for 2014 Dairy Awards

Nearly 100 people have entered the 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards since entries opened a week ago, up 10 on the same time last year.

“The signs are promising that the 2014 awards are going to be a boomer,” national convenor Chris Keeping says.

“What is really satisfying is the number of people who are entering for a second or successive time. We work really hard to make sure all entrants – not just the winners – gain real value and benefits from their experience and so it is heartening to see that about half the entries so far are from those that have entered in the past.”

Entries in the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions are being accepted online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz and close on December 20.

Mrs Keeping says the dairy trainee contest continues to grow, with 53 entrants already received. This compares with 30 entered at the same time last year.

“It is obvious trainees see real benefits in entering the awards to meet other people, gain confidence and fast track their dairy farming career.”

She says entries in the sharemilker/equity farmer contest are a little disappointing to date. “The 2014 awards is an extremely special year for the sharemilker competition as it celebrates 25 years – the country’s longest running dairy farming contest – so we are hopeful that sharemilkers around the country will respond positively and aspire to be the 25th national title holder. We’ve got a bit of work to do though as just 12 have entered the sharemilker/equity farmer contest, half the number that had entered at the same time last year.”

The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, RD1, and Triplejump, along with industry partner Primary ITO.

Those that enter before December 1 will go into an Early Bird Entry prize draw for three Honda XR125 Duster farm bikes, valued at $4000 each. One bike will be given away to an early entrant in each contest.

A total of 566 entries were received in the 2013 awards and organisers expect a similar number in 2014.

Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for more information and to enter.

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