Cream of the crop

The group will now compete for national titles in the three categories: Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year.

NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon says it was fantastic to attend the regional dinners and feel the excitement of the wins and see the journey each finalist has taken, both professionally and personally.

He observed women featured strongly in the dairy trainee category, with eight of the eleven regions won by females.

"Our finalists are farmers who are excited by the use of technology in the dairy industry and how it will benefit farming in the future.

"They are young, progressive farmers who aren't afraid of change, are focused on sustainability and hold a deep respect for the environment along with a strong desire to protect it for future generations.

"Our national finalists come from all walks of life and we have noticed this year that many are keen to be part of the solution regarding bobby calf numbers moving forward."

Winners will be announced at a black tie awards dinner at Cordis Hotel in Auckland on Saturday 13th May, after the finalists complete a final round of judging.

The finalists will compete for a total prize pool worth around $200,000.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda, LIC, Meridian, Ravensdown, and Trelleborg, along with industry partners DairyNZ, MediaWorks and Rural Training Solutions NZ.