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The 2021 Central Plateau winners.
The 33 finalists representing 11 regions in the 2021 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards have been found.
The national winners will be announced at a black tie awards dinner at Claudelands Event Centre in Hamilton on Saturday May 15, after the finalists complete a final round of judging.
The finalists will compete for a total prize pool worth more than $200,000 and the honour of winning either the 2021 New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, 2021 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year or the 2021 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the year title.
NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon says the 33 finalists are the cream of the crop from all the entries received.
“It was fantastic to attend all 11 regional finals and feel the excitement of the wins and see the journey each finalist has taken, both professionally and personally,” says Congdon.
“Our regional teams in Waikato, Central Plateau and Bay of Plenty showed adaptability delivering outstanding regional awards events despite being postponed. Bay of Plenty was a sell-out with just over 300 attending.”
He says although there is mix of gender, age, farming experience and career backgrounds amongst the finalists, over half of the Dairy Trainee national finalists are women and there are two solo women finalists in the Share Farmer of the Year category.
“It is very clear that the New Zealand dairy industry is in good health with passionate farmers, managers and trainees with positive attitudes leading the way,” he says.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, along with industry partner DairyNZ.
2021 New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year finalists:
Northland Katrina Pearson, contract milker/equity partner, 460 cows, Purua
Auckland-Hauraki Rachael Foy, contract milker, 750 cows, Huntly
Waikato Reuben & Deb Connolly, 50% sharemilkers/20% equity partners, 280 cows, Otorohanga
Bay of Plenty Aran & Sharleen Sealey, 30% equity partners, 420 cows, Galatea
Central Plateau Andrea & Blair Muggeridge, equity partners, 1080 cows, Reporoa
Taranaki John Wyatt, contract milker, 315 cows, Auroa
Manawatu Sam Howard, 50% sharemilker, 240 cows, Palmerston North
Hawkes Bay-Wairarapa Manoj Kumar & Sumit Kamboj, 50% sharemilkers, 745 cows, Eketahuna
West Coast-Top of the South Sian Madden & Mark Roberts, contract milkers & 20% share milkers, 1300 cows, Reefton
Canterbury-North Otago Dinuka & Nadeeka Gamage, contract milkers, 980 cows, Ashburton
Southland-Otago Scott & Ann Henderson, 25% LO sharemilkers, 850 cows, Milton
2021 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year Finalists
Northland Ravindra Maddage Don, farm manager, 354 cows, Whangarei
Auckland-Hauraki Stephanie Walker, farm manager, 615 cows, Huntly
Waikato Christopher Gerard Vila, farm manager, 341 cows, Ohaupo
Bay of Plenty Hayden Goodall, farm manager, 700 cows, Matatā
Central Plateau Mark Rivers, farm manager, 400 cows, Atiamuri
Taranaki Diego Gomez, farm manager, 380 cows, Stratford
Manawatu Karl Wood, farm manager, 290 cows, Palmerston North
Hawkes Bay-Wairarapa Leon McDonald, 2IC-assistant manager, 450 cows, Papatawa
West Coast-Top of the South Rachael Lind, farm manager, 1060 cows, Westport
Canterbury-North Otago Maria Alvarez, farm manager, 660 cows, Ashburton
Southland-Otago Gary Sunshine-Tervit, farm manager, 270 cows, Winto
2021 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year Finalists
Northland Bella Wati, farm assistant, 460 cow, Purua
Auckland-Hauraki Emma Udell, farm assistant, 240 cows, Ngatea
Waikato Ruth Connolly, farm assistant, 800 cows, Ohaupo
Bay of Plenty Dayna Rowe, herd manager, 1000 cows, Pongakawa
Central Plateau Tayla Flight, farm manager, 220 cows, Atiamuri
Taranaki Sydney Porter, farm assistant, 320 cows, Hawera
Manawatū Josh Wilkinson, production manager, 500 cows, Foxton
Hawkes Bay-Wairarapa Tony Craig, assistant manager, 400 cows, East Taratahi
West Coast-Top of the South Sam Smithers, farm assistant, 700 cows, Blackball
Canterbury-North Otago Mattes Groenendijk, farm assistant, 950 cows, Rangiora
Southland-Otago Sophie White, farm assistant, 1600 cows, Edendale
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