Under Embargo Until
11pm, March 2
South Africans Dominate Central Plateau Dairy Awards
There was a South African treble at the 2015 Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards last night, with all three major
winners having South African roots.
The 2015 Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Johan and Theona Blom, 2015 Central Plateau Farm
Managers of the Year, Nathan and Elri Levin, and 2015 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year, Gerard van der Mark,
were all born in South Africa.
“It’s a really exciting result and one I’m sure that will travel far as the news spreads to friends and family in their
homeland,” Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards regional manager John Butterworth says.
“Tonight’s results also prove that there are fantastic opportunities available in the New Zealand dairy industry for
people with the right attitude to enter and progress quickly.”
The three winners were announced at the region’s awards dinner at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua last night .
Johan and Theona Blom immigrated to New Zealand in 2008 and have quickly progressed up the industry. Johan, aged 47
years, began as an assistant herd manager and the couple is now 50% sharemilking 270 cows for Ron and Jan Hall at
Ngakuru.
They arrived well qualified for the industry, as Johan had been working as a drystock agricultural extension officer
having obtained a Bachelor of Science majoring in Agriculture. Theona, aged 43 years, was an accountant.
“We entered the Waikato Farm Manager of the Year competition in 2011 and Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of
the Year in 2013, and think the benefits of entering the awards are in fine-tuning our business and not getting
complacent.
“Our team work and attention to detail in capturing data through measuring and monitoring are our strengths. Having good
information definitely helps to make proactive decisions and we work very well when we put our individual strengths
together.”
The Bloms, who won $15,300 in prizes, goal is to invest in a drystock or heifer grazing block.
Runner-up in the region’s sharemilker/equity farmer contest was Reporoa 20% equity farm managers, Ross and Karla Shaw,
winning $5500 in prizes.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers,
Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy, New Zealand Farm Source, Ravensdown, and Triplejump, along with
industry partner Primary ITO.
A change of career has proved a winning move for 2015 Central Plateau Farm Managers of the Year, Nathan and Elri Levin.
They won $7400 in prizes.
The couple left the adventure sport and wine industries in South Africa eight years ago to become dairy farm assistants
in New Zealand and have progressed to their current position, contract milking 650 cows at Tokoroa for Ian and Margaret
Elliot and John and Erica Trebilco.
Aged 46 and 43, the couple entered the awards for the first time last year, placing second, and said the experience was
valuable. “We got advice from leaders within the industry and were able to surround ourselves with positive people.”
The couple hold a Bachelors Degree in Econonics and a Diploma in Office Administration, and say their strengths are in
their commitment, drive and organisation. They plan to go 50% sharemilking 400 cows in 2016.
Reporoa contract milkers Reece Williams and Jessica Berry placed second in the farm manager contest, winning $5000 in
prizes. Third went to Reporoa contract milkers Matt and Chloe Walker, who won $1800.
The 2015 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year, Gerard van der Mark, was in a hurry to start his dairy farming
career, packing his bags and moving to his first position after finishing his last school exam.
His haste has been rewarded with the title and $6000 in prizes, and follows his third-placing in his first time entering
the contest last year.
“I found lots of benefits from entering last year’s competition. The awards night was a fun event to attend and the
whole experience just built my confidence in public speaking and general dairy farming knowledge.”
The 22-year-old is 2IC on a 900-cow Mangakino farm owned by the Sargent Family Trust. He and wife Marcelle have two
young children and are progressing to a 600-cow contract milking position in June.
The couple, born in South Africa, has registered their company Maziwa Pride (which means dairy in Swahili), and plan to
further their dairy education and business management. “When we have figured out the business side of things, we would
like to save up as much money as possible and grow as quick as possible to reach our long term farming goal of buying
our first dairy farm at the age of 35.”
Rotorua farm assistant Colin Tremain, aged 26, was second winning $2100 in prizes. Atiamuri 2IC Olivia Wade, aged 22,
was third, winning $1070 in prizes.
Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Johan and Theona Blom, will host a field day on March 26, while
Farm Managers of the Year, Nathan and Elri Levin, will host a field day on the Tokoroa farm they manage onMarch 19.
Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Ross & Karla Shaw
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Jeremy & Jade Wade
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Ross & Karla Shaw
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Ross & Karla Shaw
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Johan & Theona Blom
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Chris Robinson
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Johan & Theona Blom
• Triplejump Risk Management Award – Peter Guyton
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Ross & Karla Shaw
Farm Manager Merit Awards:
• Blackman Spargo Strategic Planning Award - Nathan & Elri Levin
• B.O.P. Regional Council Environment Award – Nathan & Elri Levin
• The Vet Club Leadership Award – Laurence Walden
• Fonterra Best Practice Award – Reece Williams & Jessica Berry
• New Zealand Farm Source Farm Management Award – Nathan & Elri Levin
• Primary ITO Human Resource Management Award – Reece Williams & Jessica Berry
• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Matt & Chloe Walker
Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:
• Camco Dairy Services/Waikato Milking Systems Most Promising Entrant – Claudia Odlin
• T.H. Enterprises Ltd Farming Knowledge Award – Gerard van der Mark
• Rotorua Lakes Council Leadership Award – Olivia Wade
• DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Colin Tremain