Dairy Awards Trainees Study Hard

The 12 finalists in the 2011 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competition will be on a study tour of Southland this week visiting farms and a factory, and learning what Southland has to offer.

Organisers of the awards have found the annual study tour to be a highlight of the finalists’ participation in the awards, giving them an opportunity to learn and network. This week the study tour includes visits to Fonterra’s Edendale factory, a robotic farm, and Adventure Southland.

“We work hard to keep a balance between having a good fun time and exposing these young up-and-coming dairy farmers to some of the innovative activities taking place in the dairy industry and the people behind them,” national convenor Chris Keeping says.

The trainee finalists comprise four women and eight men, and the study tour will end in Queenstown where the winners of the 2011 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards – New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year contests – will be announced at a gala dinner on May 14.

The trainee winners will take home nearly $18,000 in cash and prizes from a total awards prize pool of $130,000.

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

“We had more than 200 people enter the dairy trainee competition, with its reputation growing each year as dairy trainees and farm owners recognise the benefits from entering.”

Mrs Keeping says the finalists range in age from 20 years to 30 years and have varying experiences in the industry. One is in their first year dairy farming while others have up to five years experience and many have held previous careers – one served in the New Zealand Army in Iraq and another two have worked in plant nurseries.

All but four are seasoned participants in the awards, having entered the awards at least once before.

“Ten of the finalists are currently studying AgITO qualifications at Level 4 or above with one undertaking the National Certificate in Agribusiness Management – a Level 5 qualification. Between them they have already achieved 27 national certificate qualifications with AgITO.”

“The awards organisers are supportive of the work being done by AgITO to provide those working in the industry with some of the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

“Our judging process tests entrants on their general farming knowledge and skills. We also believe the awards give those passionate to progress in the industry with an opportunity to prove their abilities to themselves and prospective employers. This can be extremely valuable,” she says.

More information on the finalists can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

The 2011 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists are:
Northland – Bruce Leslie, aged 28
Auckland/Hauraki – Melissa Fogarty, 25
Waikato – Darren Smith, 24
Bay of Plenty – Aleisha Butler, 30
Central Plateau – Jemma Lourie, 26
Taranaki – Samuel Humphreys, 27
Manawatu/Rangitikei/Horowhenua – Jason Walker, 20
Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa – Ben Smith, 23
West Coast/Top of the South – Adam Boaz, 30
Canterbury/North Otago – Abigail Vickers, 25
Otago – Brendan Morrison, 21
Southland – John Patterson, 21.