An opportunity to connect!
The 2021 NZ Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) Farm Manager of the Year Christopher Vila spoke at the 2022 awards night held recently in Christchurch. Here's his speech...
"Especially as NZ is renowned worldwide for being a leader in dairy and providing a clear career progression pathway," he told Dairy News.
Originally from the UK, 34-year old Green is a sharemilker on the 270ha Dairy Holdings Lts property in Hinds, mid-Canterbury, milking 1,060 cows.
A lot of hard work and sacrifice is behind Green's rise to the top.
Along the way he tasted success, winning the 2018 Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Manager of the Year and then being the 2018 national runner-up.
Green says the efforts of him, his partner Sally Eames and his workers have been recognised.
"Our efforts have been justly rewarded to help us work towards our goals; it's been a lot of fun along the way too."
Apart from his hard work, Green attributes his success to strong mentors, a simple pasture-focused system and a great team of staff and rural professionals.
"Having hugely supportive parents and partner has been really helpful too. Without have a great team around us we wouldn't be able to take time away from the day-to-day to achieve things like the dairy awards.
"We have a strong focus on team culture and you are only as strong as your weakest link so we do our utmost to ensure that our team members are not only happy, but feel motivated, engaged, and [are] adding real value to the progression of the business."
Green says his win was also well received in the UK where many friends and family members watched the livestream of the awards night.
Green's advice to anyone entering the dairy industry is to find "a good boss/mentor who is willing to invest time and knowledge in you".
"Attend as many discussion groups and courses as you can, get your face out there, ask lots of questions and get involved and become an active member of your local community.
"And, of course, enter the dairy awards."
