Jo Sheridan is Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year
Waikato farmer, and Owl Farm demonstration manager, Jo Sheridan is the 2025 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.
Mid-Canterbury farmer Tania Burrows is winner of Dairy Women’s Network inaugural Regional Leader of the Year award.
The award recognises grassroots dairy farming leadership efforts from throughout New Zealand.
Burrows says it is a “huge honour” to be the first winner of the award.
“I have a real passion for helping people grow…my goal is to be able to support regional leaders with a mentor programme to grow themselves as leaders in their communities and in the industry.”
Working with her husband, Johno, the couple have three children and are lower order sharemilkers farming 2,000 head of stock between their dairy farm and run off block. They employ four to seven team members on farm each season.
Burrows began her leadership journey as an early childhood teacher, progressing to management roles where she was responsible for up to 150 children, their families and a team of seven teaching staff.
Now involved full time in their dairy business she volunteers as a regional leader for the Dairy Women’s Network and dabbles in leadership coaching.
DWN has over 70 volunteer regional leaders in the country.
Burrows beat three other finalists: Sue Skelton, Waiotira; Central Southland sharemilker Jessica Goodwright; and North Canterbury contract milker Rebecca Green.
The award is supported by insurance brokers Crombie Lockwood.
DWN chief executive Jules Benton says its regional leaders are the vital lifeblood of the organisation.
“It’s so important to acknowledge their efforts and celebrate their leadership in the dairy industry and their communities. All four finalists showed a real passion for leadership and for making a real difference, not only in their farm roles but for the Network and in their personal lives as well. All were committed to ensure the dairy industry thrives.”
As an independent review of the National Pest Management Plan for TB finds the goal of complete eradication by 2055 is still valide, feedback is being sought on how to finish the job.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand has launched an AI-powered digital assistant to help farmers using the B+LNZ Knowledge Hub to create tailored answers and resources for their farming businesses.
A tiny organism from the arid mountains of mainland Greece is facilitating a new way of growing healthier animals on farms across New Zealand.
Alliance has announced a series of capital raise roadshow event, starting on 29 September in Tuatapere, Southland.
OPINION: Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced a new equity partnership in an effort to support pathways to farm ownership for livestock farm operators.
OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having…
OPINION: The Gene Technology Bill has divided the farming community with strong arguments on both the pros and cons of…