History Repeats in Taranaki Dairy Awards

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11pm, March 16

History Repeats in Taranaki Dairy Awards

The 2015 Taranaki Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Rob and Mel Van den Brand, have emulated the feats of family members before them – Mel’s parents, Murray and Judy Brown, won the title in 1981.

They are the second winners in recent years to follow their parents to win the regional sharemilker competition – with 2013 winners Kenneth and Rachel Short following Rachel’s parents, Louis and Barbara Kuriger, who won the title in 1987.

“As a region Taranaki has a long and proud history with the sharemilker competition, so it’s really cool to see these unique results occurring. I think we’re the only region to record this type of achievement,” the Shorts, now the regional managers, say.

The Van den Brands took out the major title at last night’s 2015 Taranaki Dairy Industry Awards, winning $16,350 in prizes.

The other big winners named at the region’s awards dinner held at The Hub, Hawera, were Lance Chadwick, the 2015 Taranaki Farm Manager of the Year, and Michael McCombs, the 2015 Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Rob and Mel Van den Brand are aged 31 and 32 years and 50% sharemilk 210 cows for the James Bashford Trust at Manaia. It was the second time they had entered the contest.

“Entering the competition made us review and question everything we do in terms of our business, and has made it a more robust one. It’s given us a clear understanding of our progression pathway as well as the skills to network and make contacts in the wider dairy industry.”

After Rob obtained his Bachelor of Science he entered the dairy industry while Mel worked in banking after gaining her Bachelor of Business. The couple’s goals are part or full farm ownership and to develop their herd into the top 1% in the country for Production Worth (PW) and Breeding Worth (BW).

They say their strengths are their ability to adapt and their high performance herd. “Our systems are flexible and allow us to maintain a lower cost of production and, as our cows are robust and in the top 5% for PW and BW, we have added avenues for income as we can always attract buyers for our stock.”

Urenui 25% sharemilkers Tim and Melissa Parsons were second in the Taranaki Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year contest, winning $5600 in prizes. Stratford 50% sharemilkers Alastair and Nicola Wicksteed were third, winning $3150 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.

The 2015 Taranaki Farm Manager of the Year, Lance Chadwick, entered the awards to raise his profile and get a good job.

The qualified builder, who won $5600, has a goal to purchase his own herd.

Mr Chadwick is 30 years old and the farm manager on Brendan Attrill and Susan Mundt’s 350-cow Toko farm. It is his second position since entering the industry and says his employers are supportive and the farm has excellent infrastructure. “It makes doing the job a lot easier and more enjoyable.”

The runner-up in the farm manager contest was Urenui farm manager Ngawharau Apaapa, who won $1570 in prizes.

The 2015 Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year, Michael McCombs, is also keen to progress up the dairy industry ladder to a farm manager’s job in the coming season.

The 22-year-old is currently an assistant manager for Ian and Sophie Honeyfield at Patea milking 220 cows. It was the second time he had entered the awards, this time winning $5300 in prizes.

“I gained a lot of benefit from entering, including the valuable feedback from industry professionals and the networking that can be done with all others involved and competing.”

Mr McCombs’ goal is to be sharemilking within three years.

Second place in the region’s dairy trainee contest went to Urenui farm assistant Daniel White, who won $1500 in prizes, and third was Te Kiri herd manager Erin Huckstep, winning $1050 in prizes.

Both Mr Apaapa and Mr White work for Tim and Melissa Parsons.

Taranaki Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Rob and Mel Van den Brand, will host a field day on April 16, while Farm Manager of the Year, Lance Chadwick, will host a field day on the Toko farm he manages on March 31. 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 – Tim & Melissa Parsons

• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Alastair & Nicola Wicksteed

• Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Rob & Mel Van den Brand

• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Tim & Melissa Parsons

• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Rob & Mel Van den Brand

• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Tim & Melissa Parsons

• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Rob & Mel Van den Brand

• Triplejump Risk Management Award – Alastair & Nicola Wicksteed

• Westpac Business Performance Award – Rob & Mel Van den Brand

Farm Manager Merit Awards:

• PGG Wrightson Livestock Best Livestock Award – Lance Chadwick

• Opus International Consultants Ltd Environment Award – Lance Chadwick

• Taranaki Vet Centre Leadership Award – Ngawharau Apaapa

• Fonterra Best Practice Award – Ngawharau Apaapa

• New Zealand Farm Source Farm Management Award – Lance Chadwick

• Primary ITO Human Resource Management Award – Lance Chadwick

• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Mark & Krystal Duynhoven

Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:

• NRM Most Promising Entrant Award – Sam Hughson

• NZX Agri Farming Knowledge Award – Daniel White

• TBFree Leadership Award – Kate Anderson

• DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Daniel White
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