Record Entries in Dairy Awards

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has received a record number of entries for its 2012 competitions, with 525 entries.

Entries in the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year contests closed yesterday <December 20>.

National convenor Chris Keeping says it is an excellent result, and up from 497 entries in the 2011 awards and the previous record of 508 set for the 2010 awards

“It’s a great result to ponder over the Christmas and New Year break and will deliver the strongest ever competition.”

The 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 AgITO.

Mrs Keeping says a total of 148 entries were received in the sharemilker/equity farmer contest, 158 entries in the farm manager contest and 219 in the dairy trainee contest.

The Northland region has the most sharemilker/equity farmer entrants for the first time with 20. Interestingly of the 148 entrants, 16 are equity farm managers, 64 are 50% sharemilkers and 68 are lower order sharemilkers.

She says Waikato is the strongest region overall, topping the tally with 73 entries in the three contests. The Canterbury/North Otago region is second with 65 entries.

“What is also really pleasing is the number of first time entrants in the awards, with 384 people entering for the first time this year. Some of our finalists and winners last year had entered the awards three, four and even five times. Each time they gain from the experience and strive to do better for them personally and their business. So the large number of first time entrants bodes well for the awards’ future.”

Mrs Keeping says entrants will be invited to attend information evenings in January to help prepare for judging, which begins in late January. The first of the regional awards dinners and winners will be announced in late February.

All regional winners will progress to the national finals in Auckland on May 12, 2012. Further information on the awards can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.