Friday, 12 April 2019 11:20

Enjoyable workplace builds team relationships

Written by 
West Coast/Top of the South winners: from left, Jeffery Hawes, Thomas and Hannah Oats, and George King. West Coast/Top of the South winners: from left, Jeffery Hawes, Thomas and Hannah Oats, and George King.

A Hokitika couple have won Share Farmer of the Year in the 2019 West Coast-Top of the South Dairy Industry Awards.

Thomas Oats and Hannah Oats are 50/50 sharemilkers on Stuart and Adrienne Coleman’s 83.5ha farm in Hokitika. They won $6500 in prizes and three merit awards. They were the region’s Farm Managers of the Year in 2015.

It was their third entry in the awards. “We love what we do and work well together,” he said.

“Entering the awards gives us the opportunity to meet like-minded people.”

They aim to own a farm and are proud of owning well looked-after stock.

“One strength of our business is our low break-even point due to low costs and a good income from relief milking, Air BnB and Hannah’s extra work as an AI technician,” said Thomas.

“Our enjoyable work environment is good for building our team and business.  The cows’ well-being always comes first.”

The awards are sponsored by DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian, Ravensdown, Westpac, DairyNZ and Primary ITO.

Working two farms

Runners-up in the Share Farmer of the Year were Jamie and Felicity Thomas, aged 37 and 40 respectively. 

The couple are 50/50 sharemilkers for Mark and Julie Freeman on two properties -- a 140ha, 380-cow farm and a 112ha, 300-cow farm, both at Atapo. 

Dairy Manager of the Year category winner was George King who is the farm manager for Alex and Julie King’s 103ha Westport property, milking 274 cows.

The Dairy Trainee of the Year, Jeffrey Hawes (23), is a first-time entrantand a farm assistant on the 449ha, 860-cow Landcorp property in Moana. 

The West Coast-Top of the South Dairy Industry Awards winners field day will be held on April 15 at 10.30am at 1462 Kaniere Kowhitirangi Road, Hokitika.

More like this

New chair for NZDIA

Manawatū farmer Raewyn Hills is the new chair of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards national committee.

Cut the excessive red tape!

Politicians at this year's New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards heard a clear message from organisers - do not bog the industry down in excessive red tape.

Brothers share on-farm success

Two years ago, sharemilking brothers Sumit Kamboj and Manoj Kumar created history by becoming the first siblings to win the Share Farmers of the Year title in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Papal visit

OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.

Thai egg tarts

OPINION: The hustle and bustle of one of Bangkok's most popular fast food outlets may feel a world away from…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter