33 finalists in Dairy awards

National convenor Chris Keeping says many of the finalists are relatively new to the industry, having changed careers, and are tapping into the resources and knowledge available to make rapid progress in the industry.

"Entering the dairy industry awards is one way they have identified they can improve their knowledge and skills, meet rural professionals and other like-minded farmers, lift their confidence, have some fun and enhance their reputation," Keeping says.

The finalists are competing in the 2014 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions. The sharemilker contest is celebrating 25 years in 2014, making it the country's longest-running dairy farming competition.

The winners will be announced in Auckland on May 9 where the 33 finalists will compete for national honours and nearly $160,000 in cash and prizes.

Keeping says the finalists are now busy hosting regional field days and preparing for national judging. "It's a really busy and fulfilling time as they gain feedback and also re-evaluate their goals and how they can best achieve them."

She says there are some standout features of this year's group of finalists. "This year's bunch demonstrates the higher degree of professionalism being required in the industry as many hold Bachelor degrees. It is also really pleasing to see the number of females competing in the dairy trainee contest and the number of finalists that have progressed in the dairy industry awards, having been past regional winners at a lower level."

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

New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year finalists:
Northland – Lance & Stephanie Oliver
Auckland/Hauraki – Bryce & Rosemarie Costar
Waikato – James & Melissa Barbour
Bay of Plenty – Brett & Natasha Grindrod
Central Plateau – Donald & Kirsten Watson
Taranaki – Charlie & Johanna McCaig
Manawatu – Duncan & Kim Fraser
Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa – Tony & Zoe Kuriger
West Coast/Top of the South – Chris & Carla Staples
Canterbury/North Otago – Kevin & Sara O'Neill
Southland/Otago – Steve Henderson & Tracy Heale

New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year finalists:
Northland – Michael & Donna Carroll
Auckland/Hauraki – Simon Player
Waikato – Liam Zander
Bay of Plenty – Thomas Blackett & Stacey Lepper
Central Plateau – Robert Hartley
Taranaki – Michael Shearer
Manawatu – Sam Ebbett
Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa – Nick Bertram
West Coast/Top of the South – Jason Macbeth
Canterbury/North Otago – Phillip Colombus
Southland/Otago – Jared Crawford

New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists:
Northland – Matthew Snedden
Auckland/Hauraki – Marion Reynolds
Waikato – Nathan Hubbard
Bay of Plenty – Cameron Luxton
Central Plateau – Ruth Hone
Taranaki – Ben Frost
Manawatu – Hayley Hoogendyk
Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa – Alice Gysbertsen.
West Coast/Top of the South – Amy White
Canterbury/North Otago – Isaac Vujcich
Southland/Otago – Josh Lavender.

Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for more information on the winners.