Dairy Winners Huge Desire To Learn

Tapping into the knowledge of rural professionals involved in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has helped Richard and Christine Sinclair take out the top award at the Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua regional finals.

The Feilding lower order sharemilkers won the region’s Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year contest and took home cash and prizes worth more than $14,500.

It was the third time they had entered the awards, saying the opportunity to gain knowledge from professionals to identify areas for business improvement and to help direct the business focus are huge benefits.

“One of our strengths is our desire and willingness to learn from others in the dairy industry so as to continue to gain knowledge and experience so we can build and develop our business to its full potential.”

The couple is 25% sharemilking 400 cows on a 165ha property owned by David and Elizabeth Mills. They plan to enter into an equity partnership on the Mills’ property by 2016.

Marton 25% sharemilkers Soenke and Antje Paarmann placed second in the Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year contest, winning $6400 in cash and prizes. Third place and $2900 went to Palmerston North 50% sharemilkers Jack Zwart and Terri Standish-Zwart.

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.

Palmerston North farm manager Jason Halford, aged 33, entered the awards for a second time to network, analyse goals and identify strengths and areas for improvement.

In doing so, he also won the region’s Farm Manager of the Year title and $8400 in cash and prizes.

Mr Halford is currently managing a 154ha property milking 440 cows on the outskirts of Palmerston North owned by Kevin and Joanne Argyle.

He says good communication with the owners and quality stock, soil and pastures are strengths of the business.

“The owner and I meet regularly to plan forward through each phase of the season, which allows for proactive farm management.”

Mr Halford has already secured a 50% sharemilking position milking 300 cows for the new season. He aims to grow his sharemilking business to 600 cows within three years.

One of Mr Halford’s neighbours, farm manager Justin Dunlop, placed second in the contest, winning $5000 in cash and prizes. Third place went to Bulls contract milker Kevin Walker, who won $1250.

The 2011 Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Dairy Trainee of the Year, Jason Walker, says the dairy awards provide opportunities for him to meet potential employees.

Mr Walker, aged 20, says it was the second time he had entered as other benefits included the chance to meet new people and make friends.

He and his partner Irene Davidson have two young children and are on a 153ha farm owned by Wayne Lynch near Palmerston North milking 415 cows.

He aims to move into a management position in the next two years and then progress to sharemilking. He won cash and prizes worth $5000.

Levin farm assistant Dale Pratt placed second in the trainee contest winning $500 and Palmerston North assistant Amy Lowe was third; winning $750, as she also won the Farming Knowledge Merit Award.

All three winners will now compete for the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year titles and a prize pool of more than $130,000 in Queenstown on May 14.

Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year Richard and Christine Sinclair will host a field day on March 24, while Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua Farm Manager of the Year, Jason Halford, will host a field day on the farm he manages near Palmerston North on March 30. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.conz.

Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:
• Naylor Lawrence & Associates Best Financial and Farm Records Award – Richard & Christine Sinclair
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Jack Zwart & Terri Standish-Zwart
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Richard & Christine Sinclair
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Graeme Sorenson & Lisa Hicks
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Quentin & Stephanie Bruntlett
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Richard & Christine Sinclair
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Mason Smith & Iona Cameron-Smith
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Soenke & Antje Paarmann
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Soenke & Antje Paarmann

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
• Hobson & Associations Pride and Property Award – Hayden Symes & Maryanne Roberts
• MacDougalls Aims & Attitude Award – Justin Dunlop
• Bell-Booth Grass Roots Award – Hayden McDonald
• DairyNZ Human Resource Management Award – Jason Halford
• RD1 Farm Management Award – Justin Dunlop
• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Jason Halford

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