Honing in on the next award

Hone, 24, won $18,000 in prizes when she became the first female to win the trainee title at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards finals earlier this year.

Judges described Hone as "positive", "bubbly" and that she would be a great ambassador for the dairy industry. After her win, she departed on a two-month overseas experience and immediately stepped into that role.

"It was interesting looking at agriculture in other countries. I went to the Calgary Stampede in Canada and spent time in the international room talking to lots of interesting people, including CEOs of seed companies. It was amazing."

She will represent the industry next month (October) after winning a Young Farmer award to attend the World Food Day in Bangkok.

"I had to apply for that and write an essay and say what I had achieved in the industry. I have since talked to the judges and they said winning the trainee award had helped me win this award."

The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, RD1 and Triplejump, along with industry partner Primary ITO.

Entries in the 2015 awards – including the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and the trainee contests – open on October 20. They will be accepted online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz until November 30.

Hone has some good advice to those interested in entering. "I always say opportunities come to those that apply themselves. Even by entering you are putting your name out there and you never know what job opportunities may come your way."

She also says it's a good idea to talk to other contestants, to start studying and learning, and to plan. "Put in place a business plan of where you want to go so you have it set in place what your goals are and how you are going to achieve them."

The awards had taught her a lot, from the feedback judges provide and in the experience of entering and being judged. "You learn a lot about yourself and how you react in different situations."

While she has remained in her same position near Taupo for this season, Hone's short term goal is to move to a higher position, possibly contract milking, next season and to enter the awards again.

"It would be wicked to take out the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year contest – that's the ultimate."