33 Finalists in NZ Dairy Awards

33 Finalists in NZ Dairy Awards

The 33 finalists in the 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards showcase the talent the dairy industry is attracting.

National convenor Chris Keeping says many of the finalists are relatively new to the industry, having changed careers, and are tapping into the resources and knowledge available to grow their farm businesses and make rapid progress in the industry.

“Entering the dairy industry awards is one way they have identified they can improve their knowledge and skills, meet rural professionals and other like-minded farmers, lift their confidence, have some fun and enhance their reputation,” Mrs Keeping says.

The finalists are competing in the 2014 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions. The sharemilker contest is celebrating 25 years in 2014, making it the country’s longest-running dairy farming competition.

The winners will be announced in Auckland on May 9 where the 33 finalists will compete for national honours and nearly $160,000 in cash and prizes.

Mrs Keeping says the finalists are now busy hosting regional field days and preparing for national judging. “It’s a really busy and fulfilling time as they gain feedback and also re-evaluate their goals and how they can best achieve them.”

She says there are some standout features of this year’s group of finalists. “This year’s bunch demonstrates the higher degree of professionalism being required in the industry as many hold Bachelor degrees. It is also really pleasing to see the number of females competing in the dairy trainee contest and the number of finalists that have progressed in the dairy industry awards, having been past regional winners at a lower level.”

The New Zealand 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.

New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year finalists:
• Northland – Lance & Stephanie Oliver
• Auckland/Hauraki – Bryce & Rosemarie Costar
• Waikato – James & Melissa Barbour
• Bay of Plenty – Brett & Natasha Grindrod
• Central Plateau – Donald & Kirsten Watson
• Taranaki – Charlie & Johanna McCaig
• Manawatu – Duncan & Kim Fraser
• Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa – Tony & Zoe Kuriger
• West Coast/Top of the South – Chris & Carla Staples
• Canterbury/North Otago – Kevin & Sara O’Neill
• Southland/Otago – Steve Henderson & Tracy Heale

New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year finalists:
• Northland – Michael & Donna Carroll
• Auckland/Hauraki – Simon Player
• Waikato – Liam Zander
• Bay of Plenty – Thomas Blackett & Stacey Lepper
• Central Plateau – Robert Hartley
• Taranaki – Michael Shearer
• Manawatu – Sam Ebbett
• Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa – Nick Bertram
• West Coast/Top of the South – Jason Macbeth
• Canterbury/North Otago – Phillip Colombus
• Southland/Otago – Jared Crawford

New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists:
• Northland – Matthew Snedden
• Auckland/Hauraki – Marion Reynolds
• Waikato – Nathan Hubbard
• Bay of Plenty – Cameron Luxton
• Central Plateau – Ruth Hone
• Taranaki – Ben Frost
• Manawatu – Hayley Hoogendyk
• Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa – Alice Gysbertsen.
• West Coast/Top of the South – Amy White
• Canterbury/North Otago – Isaac Vujcich
• Southland/Otago – Josh Lavender.

Ends

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