The 2014 awards coincide with the 25th anniversary of the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year competition, the country’s longest running dairy farming contest, Keeping says.
“We are taking some time to celebrate this achievement and are enjoying the trip down memory lane as we see where some of our past winners, entrants, judges and organisers are now. What has become apparent is the long lasting effect their association with the contest has had on them and their dairy farming careers.”
Keeping says entrants in the 2014 awards – the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year – could join the alumni.
Entries are being accepted online and close on December 20.
She says the awards are a big help to participants. “The awards raise the profile, reputation and confidence of entrants and help them to upskill and promote their businesses. They also offer generous rewards and prizes.”
Entrants up to December 1 will go into a prize draw for three Honda XR125 Duster farm bikes valued at $4000 each. One bike will be given to an early entrant in each contest.
The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, RD1, Triplejump and Primary ITO.
• Entrants will first compete in one of 11 regional competitions, all regional winners progressing to the national final in Auckland in May next year.
www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz
