Sharemilker award boosts couple’s farm ownership goal

The Connors won the premier title and $14,800 in cash and prizes at the region's Dairy Industry Awards held at the Travelodge in Palmerston North this month. The region's Farm Manager of the Year title was won by Matt Johnson, and Shane True won the Dairy Trainee of the Year contest.

The Connors are 50% sharemilking 242 cows for the Wyke Partnership at Shannon.

"It's the smallest herd I've ever milked," says Shaun, 32, who started in the industry when he was 16. The Connors took on the position after managing a 1300-cow farm in Canterbury.

"We take pride in our livestock and believe they perform at their best when their needs are met as fully as possible."

They also enjoy the dairy industry and have a goal of farm ownership that allows them to step away from the day-to-day running of the operation.

"There is nowhere else where an industry cooperates and pulls together in the same way."

It was the second time they had entered the awards, saying the analysis and judgment is invaluable to the future of their farm business.

"You can't help but become more aware of your farm business when you have to present every aspect to judges."

Second place in the Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year contest went to Feilding lower order sharemilkers Duncan and Kim Fraser. They won $4900 in prizes.

The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner AgITO.

The winner of the region's Farm Manager of the Year title, Matt Johnson, has plenty of praise for his farm owners – Landcorp.

"Landcorp's a well structured corporate company with fantastic systems in place and top class facilities. It's achieving above average results and is focused on the people it employs and helping them grow within the industry by supplying training and support, as well as providing a safe work environment."

Johnson manages Landcorp's Tutoko Dairy Unit milking 222 cows near Foxton. He won $8150 in cash and prizes. Aged 25, he entered the industry after school and wants to manage larger operations to gain staff management experience before progressing into sharemilking.

He says the awards are motivational and forced him to consider his farm and personal goals.

Feilding farm managers Michael and Raewyn Hills were second in the farm manager contest, winning $4250 in prizes, and Foxton farm manager Justin Todd was third, winning $2250 in prizes.

The 2012 Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Dairy Trainee of the Year, Shane True, says he entered the awards for a second time as he enjoyed the fun and interactive events.

"I also enjoyed meeting new people that are passionate about the industry, and it was good to get a measure of where my skills and knowledge is at."

True, aged 21, has been in the dairy industry three years and is currently assisting on a 570-cow Kiwitea farm owned by Andrew Hoggard.

His goal is to continue progressing in the industry, taking the traditional pathway. He won $5000 in prizes.

Twenty-two-year-old Levin farm assistant Dale Pratt was placed second in the dairy trainee award and Bulls assistant Tara Miller, aged 23, was third. They won $500 and $250 respectively.

All three winners will now compete for the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year titles witha prize pool of nearly $140,000 in Auckland on May 12.

Shaun and Liza Connor host a field day on March 22, and Johnson on March 29.