Third Time Lucky for 2019 New Zealand Dairy Industry Award Winners
The 2019 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards winners are a smart, humble and practical couple who are doing very well at
dairy farming on a challenging property in Northland.
In front of a capacity audience of 580 people at Wellington’s TSB Arena last night, Colin and Isabella Beazley from
Northland were named the 2019 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year, Canterbury’s Matt Redmond became the 2019 New
Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and Nicola Blowey, also from Canterbury was announced the 2019 New Zealand Dairy
Trainee of the Year. They shared prizes worth over $210,000.
Share Farmer head judge Kevin McKinley, from DairyNZ, says the Beazley’s impressed the judges with their resilience,
team work and attention-to-detail. “They are such a great team and complement each other with their roles on farm.”
The Beazleys, both aged 31, are 50/50 Sharemilkers for Neil Jones and Wendy Crow-Jones milking 330 cows on the 163ha
Wellsford property.
The couple have entered the Awards twice previously and were third placegetters last year in the same category. They
believe in the Awards programme as a learning platform to network, benchmark themselves against others in the industry
and learn more about themselves personally and their business.
In winning the national title and $52,000 in prizes, Colin and Isabella demonstrated strengths in pasture management,
leadership, environment and health and safety. They also won four merit awards; the Ravensdown Pasture Performance
Award, the Federated Farmers Leadership Award, the Honda Farm Safety, Health & Biosecurity Award and the Meridian Farm Environment Award.
Fellow Share Farmer judge Matt Richards, from Southland says a good example of their pasture management is the way they
work with the Kikuya grass they have but are also trying to eliminate it at the same time. “They had a really good
understanding of pasture and crop eaten and importance of it in terms of driving operating profit.”
The judges also noted that the Beazleys weren’t afraid to trial new things and were innovative around pasture species
and management and their use of technology. “Colin uses a drone to check on the cows and has even delivered a coffee by
drone to a staff member working down the back of the farm,” explains Matt.
Judge Jacqui Groves from Westpac noted how strong Colin and Isabella were in their community involvement and leadership.
“They have awesome relationships with the people in their local community and are fully immersed in many activities,
from Plunket to St John’s to footy and badminton.”
The Beazleys impressed the judges with their use of social media to ‘spread the good word about dairy farming’, and
their strong family values and attention-to-detail in all areas of their business stood out.
“Everything was well thought-out and well-planned. They are super organised and hold their staff in high-esteem.”
“We were really impressed at the “Three Shhhh’s” rule – all staff need to be home by 5.00pm and have had a SH-ower,
SH-ave and a SH-…, by the time the 6.00pm news is on,” says Jacqui. “Colin is leading by example by ensuring he is home
as well.”
Kevin says the judges were very impressed overall at the high calibre of this year’s finalists. “We’ve been from one end
of the country to the other and we have met an outstanding group of people excelling within the industry.”
“They have a good work life balance, they still work hard but they find the time to pursue interests off-farm such as
sport, and time with family and friends.”
The runners-up in the Share Farmer of the Year competition, Tokoroa contract milkers Marc and Nia Jones impressed the
judges with their focus on developing their team’s personal and professional goals.
“They really care about developing people and have even named different geographic spots on the farm after members of
their team,” says Jacqui.
The judges noted that the Jones’ farm name, Snowdon Legacy, was a combination of the name of the highest peak in Wales,
and Legacy, after the All Blacks book, combining and acknowledging both cultures.
“They had this word ‘AgriCULTURE’ – they create and live a high-performing culture, developing and caring for people,
the land, the environment. They don’t just say the word, they live it,” says Kevin. “People are a real focus of their
business, they truly care.”
The couple are in their first season contract milking on for Margaret Elliott, on her 270ha, 970-cow Tokoroa property.
They won the DairyNZ Human Resources merit award and $28,000 in prizes.
Manawatu 50/50 sharemilkers Thomas and Jemima Bebbington, both aged 36 & 33 respectively placed third in the competition, winning $19910 in prizes. The couple also won the LIC Recording and
Productivity Award. The judges noted their passion for livestock and that they had outstanding community involvement.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra,
Honda, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and Westpac along with industry partners DairyNZ and PrimaryITO.
Dairy Manager head judge Mark Shadwick says the 2019 Dairy Manager winner is a real all-rounder who benchmarks himself
against others in the industry across all aspects of farming.
Matt Redmond, 25, is the farm manager on Craigmore’s Pahau Flats Dairy Ltd – Landsend 232ha, 830-cow property at
Culverden. He won $21,700 in prizes and also won the PrimaryITO Power Play and the Westpac Personal Planning & Financial Management merit awards.
“He concentrates on all aspects of the farm, but his financial capability and thorough understanding of his finances
really set him apart,” he says.
“Matt is goal-focused and knowledgeable. He’s not willing to just sit still, he wants to continually challenge himself
to learn and grow,” says judge Malcom Scott from Westpac. “He has strong support from his wife Mel. He doesn’t just have
business focus; he has life focus.”
Matt holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) degree majoring in Agricultural Management and Rural Valuation from
Lincoln University. He entered the dairy industry four years ago and has worked for the past two as a manager.
The Dairy Manager judges were impressed by the calibre of all the finalists and by what they were achieving at a young
age. “We thoroughly enjoyed travelling the country and judging all the entrants because they are an inspiring group of
young people heading in the right direction who want to make a go of life,” they say. “They want to be leading the way.”
The judges agree that the dairy industry is in good hands. “All the entrants were so inspiring and driven people,” says
judge Annalize du Plessis, from Dipton. “I would be happy to employ any of them.”
“The continued use of technology and innovation in pasture management and stock movement has been evident again this
year, however it is also strong in the health and safety area, particularly with on-farm inductions, on-farm records and
use of social media to monitor staff’s location on-farm and their getting home safely,” says Mark. “All staff are taking
ownership of health and safety and they all feel a part of it.”
The Dairy Manager runner-up, James Matheson from Southland, aged 25 years, also won the Meridian Leadership merit award.
James is the Farm Manager for Chris Lawlor on his 290ha, 700-cow Gore property and won $11,400 in prizes. The judges
noted his casual, relaxed style and that he is an extremely capable manager who runs the farm for an overseas owner.
“James is goal-driven and has achieved many goals he set himself years ago. He places staff as top priority and
encourages them to better themselves,” says Malcolm. “He’s basically jumpstarting his staff, giving them a head-start on
other people in the industry.”
Laurence Walden, 40, from Central Plateau placed third and won $8,000 in prizes and the DairyNZ Employee Engagement and
Fonterra Dairy Management merit awards.
Laurence is in his third season as Farm Manager for Tauhara Farms Ltd Partnership 365ha, 1040-cow farm at Taupo.
The judges describe Laurence as a humble, passionate, family man with mana, who excels in team management. “He is strong
across all areas, but especially in community involvement and leadership,” says Annalize.
Judges described the 2019 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year, Nicola Blowey, from Canterbury as a confident, mature
and compelling young woman. (,7She has a mature outlook and her communication skills were exceptional, says Dairy
Trainee head judge Jenny Sinclair, from Te Awamutu.
“Nicola came to New Zealand to learn about low-cost pasture-based systems. She has a sound general knowledge base and an
ability to interpret farm reports and make recommendations from those.”
Judge Tony Finch, from DairyNZ, says Nicola is an industry leader who is a compelling, knowledgeable and well-rounded
person who has surrounded herself with good people.
Nicola, aged 25 years, won $9,700 in prizes along with the Federated Farmers Farming Knowledge Award, the DeLaval
Communication & Engagement Award and the Best Video Award presented by Streamliner .. She is employed by Matthew and Vanessa Greenwood
as an Assistant Herd Manager on Kieran and Leonie Guiney’s 600-cow, 175ha Fairlie property.
The judges say all the Dairy Trainee finalists are passionate about the dairy industry and aware of industry challenges,
particularly environmental.
“They are all community-minded and aware of the importance of having a life-work balance. They are all very mature for
their ages,” says judge Mark Nicholas. “The finalists are all doing some amazing things for their community at a young
age.”
“From involvement in Young Farmer’s Clubs where they are office holders to coaching sports teams, volunteer fire brigade
and ambulance officers, these finalists are sticking their hands up and making a significant contribution to their
community, which is fantastic to see.”
The Dairy Trainee runner-up, Matt Dawson from Waikato, also won the DairyNZ Practical Skills merit award Matt is
Assistant Manager for Neville Henderson on his 229ha, 620-cow property at Horsham Downs and won $5,500 in prizes.
The judges noted that Matt had exceptional general knowledge and a commitment to further his industry training. “Matt
started in the industry at 16 years of age and has used the PrimaryITO training to its fullest. He is very
well-rounded,” they say.
Third placegetter Harry Phipps, 20 years, is Herd Manager for Gary and Kathy O’Donnell milking 400 cows on the 140ha
Rotorua farm. The judges described him as a well-rounded farmer who has an excellent sense of environmental challenges
and a sound general knowledge. He won $3,000 in prizes.
Taranaki farmers Damian and Jane Roper won the 2019 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award and received the John Wilson
Memorial Trophy.
The prestigious award recognises dairy farmers who demonstrate leadership in their approach to sustainability and who
are respected by their fellow farmers and their community for their attitude and role in sustainable dairying.
Judge Gavin Roden, NZDIA Trustee, said the Ropers were passionate, enthusiastic and energetic with an ability to
motivate those around them. “They are determined to be better than just compliant,” he said.
From restoring bush on their property to its former natural state to creating a lake and monitoring the water quality,
the Ropers impressed the panel of judges with their commitment and passion.
“When you listen to where they have come from to where they are now, to where they’re heading in the future – give me a
ticket because I want to be on their train!”
The John Wilson Memorial trophy was presented by Belinda Wilson, wife of the late John Wilson, and Fonterra CEO Miles
Hurrell.
Miles says, as a successful farmer, John was keenly aware of the need for, and benefits of, farming in a sustainable and
responsible way.
“John was a hugely respected leader of our Co-op and the wider industry, and the driving force behind this award. Its
establishment was his idea so it’s only fitting that the trophy be named in his honour and memory”.
Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for more information on the awards and winners.
Full Results:
2019 New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year:
• Winner – Colin & Isabella Beazley, Northland
• Runner-up – Marc & Nia Jones, Waikato
• Third – Thomas and Jemima Bebbington, Manawatu
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Marc & Nia Jones
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Ruwan Wijayasena
• Federated Farmers Leadership Award – Colin & Isabella Beazley
• Honda Farm Safety, Health & Biosecurity Award – Colin & Isabella Beazley
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Thomas & Jemima Bebbington
• Meridian Farm Environment Award – Colin & Isabella Beazley
• 30th Anniversary Ecolab Interview Award – Thomas and Hannah Oats
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Colin & Isabella Beazley
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Ruwan Wijayasena
2019 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year:
• Winner – Matt Redmond, Canterbury
• Runner-up – James Matheson, Southland
• Third – Laurence Walden, Central Plateau
• DairyNZ Employee Engagement Award – Laurence Walden
• DeLaval Livestock Management Award – Lorraine Ferreira
• Fonterra Dairy Management Award – Laurence Walden
• LIC Interview Award – Lorraine Ferreira
• Meridian Leadership Award – James Matheson
• PrimaryITO Power Play Award – Matt Redmond
• Ravensdown Feed Management Award – Kyle Brennan
• Westpac Personal Planning & Financial Management Award – Matt Redmond
2019 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year:
• Winner – Nicola Blowey, Canterbury
• Runner-up – Matt Dawson, Waikato
• Third – Harry Phipps, Central Plateau
• DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Matt Dawson
• Federated Farmers Farming Knowledge Award – Nicola Blowey
• DeLaval Communication and Engagement Award – Nicola Blowey
• Best Video Award presented by Streamliner – Nicola Blowey
Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award - Damian & Jane Roper
ENDS