Tuesday, 24 May 2016 15:55

Team effort for NZ Share Farmer of the Year

Written by  Sudesh Kissun

A team effort has won sharemilkers Mark and Jamie Arnold the 2016 New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year award.

Accepting their award before 600 industry leaders and farmers in Wellington this month, the Arnolds thanked their support team.

Mark started by thanking farm owners Mike and Sherynn Harold and Stuart and Sandra Cordell, Dannevirke; they are 50/50 sharemilkers on a 500-cow farm.

It is the couple's fifth season on the farm, where their great relationship with the farm owners led to the owners partnering with them as they progressed from lower order to 50% sharemilking.

"We couldn't thank you guys enough, especially during this low payout year."

Mark broke down while thanking his father, prompting Jamie to take over the microphone, firstly thanking her husband for getting up at 5am most days to milk the cows.

"You put in the hard yards; you are everything and we work as a team."

Jamie says their farm operation is all about people.

"We are surrounded by people who have great influence; our staff make us who we are. We call our farm owners our farm partner and really appreciate their support."

The Arnolds took a huge pay cut when they launched their dairy farming career eight years ago. The former logging crew manager and teacher went on a single herd manager's salary when they first stepped onto a dairy farm.

Chief judge Abby Scott says the Arnolds chose dairy farming as a good lifestyle for their family and they have a long term view of their future in it. The couple demonstrated strengths in finance, business and pasture management, she says.

"The level of understanding they demonstrated in their financial presentation to us was very impressive. Their future growth plans are also impressive and they have a clear strategic plan of where they want to be and clear goals."

Thomas Chatfield became the 2016 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and Nicholas Bailey was announced the 2016 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year. The three winners shared prizes worth nearly $170,000.

More like this

Featured

LIC Space folds for good

Farmer co-operative LIC has closed its satellite-backed pasture measurement platform – Space.

Editorial: Time for common sense

OPINION: The case of four Canterbury high country stations facing costly and complex consent hearing processes highlights the dilemma facing the farming sector as the country transitions into a replacement for the Resource Management Act (RMA).

National

Machinery & Products

Calf feeding boost

Advantage Plastics says it is revolutionising calf meal storage and handling, making farm life easier, safer, and more efficient this…

JD's precision essentials

Farmers across New Zealand are renowned for their productivity and efficiency, always wanting to do more with less, while getting…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Are they serious?

OPINION: The Greens aren’t serious people when it comes to the economy, so let’s not spend too much on their…

A hurry up!

OPINION: PM Chris Luxon is getting pinged lately for rolling out the old 'we're still a new government' line when…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter