Dairy award winners announced

"This year's winners and finalists are taking on the challenge and raising the game in all areas of dairy farming – in productivity, as well as in the environment, health and safety, and human resources – and that's heartening to see," head sharemilker/equity farmer judge Brian Power says. "There are some very capable young people coming through our industry."

Southland representatives Don and Jess Moore took out the major award – the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year. The 2013 New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year title went to Richard Pearse representing the Canterbury/North Otago region and Southland's James Warren was named New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year. The winners were announced at the TSB Events Centre in Wellington last night and collected $150,000 in total prizes.

"All the winners are young, ambitious and really passionate about helping other young people get started in the industry."

The New Zealand 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.

Power described Don and Jess Moore, aged 28 and 26, as infectious. "They have a great way of coming across and there's no pretence."

Moore is a former deep sea fisherman who switched careers to dairy farming five years ago. It has proved a successful move, as in 2010 he won the Southland Farm Manager of the Year title on the same farm he now 50% sharemilks 950 cows.

The couple, who won $43,200 in prizes, had a great relationship with the farm owners, Bruce and Sue, and Jeff and Edith Cunningham, and this had enabled them to progress from managing to sharemilking on the property, Power says.

"They have an innovative way of leasing the cows from the owners to buy. They had also defined their values and aspirations for the farm and were using that information to plan capital development for the farm."

Staff were well supported by the Moores. "We got a great feel about the HR systems and the integration of their staff into the business," Power says.

The runners-up in the sharemilker/equity farmer contest were Morgan and Hayley Easton from Canterbury/North Otago, winning $19,000 in prizes, and Garth and Nicola Thomson from Central Plateau placed third, winning $13,600 in prizes.

The 2013 New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year, Richard Pearse, was achieving "exceptional" production in his first year managing on a first year dairy farm conversion, head farm manager judge Tory Pedersen says.

"The clear message the finalists gave us this year was their passion for the industry and their desire to progress. They are also focused on best practice farming and are very conscious of public perceptions."

Pearse, 30, won $29,200 in prizes and is contract milking 950 cows for Graham and Jane Thomas at Ashburton. With his veterinarian partner, Susan Geddes, the couple aims to progress to sharemilking or equity farming and ultimately owning a 1000 cow property.

Manawatu/Rangitikei/Horowhenua representatives Michael and Raewyn Hills were placed second in the farm manager contest winning $12,500 in prizes and Northland's Niall and Delwyn McKenzie were third, taking home $3650 in prizes.

The 2013 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year, James Warren, was a standout winner, head dairy trainee judge Rick Pridmore says.

Warren, aged 28, won $8800 in prizes and had an interesting back story that epitomised his attitude and ambition.

Having grown up in Wellington, he attended Massey University to study farming on a DairyNZ Scholarship. Upon graduating he worked on a cattle ranch in Canada before heading to Ireland for five years, during which time he set up a company selling grass seed. He returned to New Zealand to fulfill his dairy farming ambitions and progresses to a farm manager's position on a 700-cow farm next month. He is currently an assistant on a 1000 cow Winton farm owned by Tony and Vicki Miles.

"He's achieved all his two-year goals, and his next ambition is to be an equity manager.

"A DVD he prepared for us was an incredible use of three minutes and he answered questions with comments that were considered and concise and quite insightful really. He has confidence and will be a good industry leader," Pridmore says. "It's a high priority for him to help people get into the industry."

Former physiotherapist Thomas Chatfield, representing Bay of Plenty, placed second in the dairy trainee contest, winning $4000 in prizes, and Northland's Jake Thomson was third, winning $2000.

The judges also noted the finalists were working on a diverse range of farms, with the full range of operating systems on display from fully grass fed through to highly intensive.

Nearly half the finalists (15) were first time entrants in the awards competition.

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

Full Results:
NZ Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year:
1 Don & Jess Moore, Southland, winning $43,268 in prizes
2 Morgan & Hayley Easton, Canterbury/North Otago, $18,999
3 Garth & Nicola Thomson, Central Plateau, $13,633
Merit Awards
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Don & Jess Moore
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Shaun & Kate Mitchell, Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa
• Federated Farmers of NZ Leadership Award – Peter & Helen McLaren, West Coast/Top of the South
• Fonterra Interview Award – Richard McIntyre, Manawatu/Rangitikei/Horowhenua
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Russell & Nadine Meade
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Morgan & Hayley Easton
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Don & Jess Moore
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Garth & Nicola Thomson
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Don & Jess Moore

NZ Farm Manager of the Year:
1 Richard Pearse, Canterbury/North Otago, winning $29,268 in prizes
2 Michael & Raewyn Hills, Manawatu/Rangitikei/Horowhenua, $12,499
3 Niall & Delwyn McKenzie, Northland, $3650
Merit Awards
• AgITO Human Resource Management Award – Blair & Andrea Muggeridge, Central Plateau
• DairyNZ Interview Award – Blair & Andrea Muggeridge
• Fonterra Best Practice Award – Michael & Raewyn Hills
• RD1 Farm Management Award – Richard Pearse
• Westpac Financial Planning & Management Award – Richard Pearse

NZ Dairy Trainee of the Year:
1 James Warren, Southland, winning $8799 in prizes
2 Thomas Chatfield, Bay of Plenty, $4000
3 Jake Thomson, Northland, $2000
Merit Award
• DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Thomas Chatfield