A Step Up For Waikato Dairy Awards Winners

The 2011 Waikato Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year Jason and Lisa Suisted have gone one better this year to win the contest and nearly $15,000 in cash and prizes.

The couple, who 50% sharemilk 430 cows for Bruce and Glenys Batkin at Gordonton, near Hamilton, placed second in the award last year.

The Suisteds say they entered again as the awards provide an opportunity to network with “fantastic industry driven individuals and corporations”.

“The competition has helped us to recognise the areas of our business that can be improved and refined, and likewise highlight the areas where we are achieving well.”

They were one of three winners announced at the annual Waikato Dairy Industry Awards dinner held at Mystery Creek last night. The Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, Chris Numan, and Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year, Darren Smith, were also announced.

Jason and Lisa Suisted have been dairy farming for 10 years and plan to progress to a larger – but still profitable – 50% sharemilking position. They then plan to use their equity to purchase a farm or enter into an equity partnership.

They say their strengths are their team work and forward planning. “We have a very precise picture of our future goals and how we are going to achieve these. We enjoy not only the process of goal setting but also the challenge and commitment it takes to strive for and accomplish these.”

Morrinsville 50% sharemilkers Kieran and Julie Langley placed second in the Waikato Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year contest, winning $7250, and third place and $4000 went to Tokoroa 50% sharemilkers Mark and Cathy Nicholas.

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.

Cambridge contract milker Chris Numan, 23, is the 2011 Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, winning $6900 in cash and prizes.

Mr Numan works for his parents, John and Maria Numan, on their 109ha farm milking 405 cows. He has been there since 2006 and has progressed from farm assistant to contract milker during that period.

“They are really supportive and strive to achieve high productivity by closely monitoring and analysing costs. They pass on their expertise to all farm operators and staff to help us all progress in the industry.”

It was the first time Mr Numan had entered the awards, hoping it would benefit him by raising his profile and opening career opportunities.

Orini contract milkers Timothy and Sandra Fransen placed second in the farm manager contest, winning $5900, and Matamata contract milker Andrew Bouton was third, winning $2850.

The 2011 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year is first year dairy farmer, Darren Smith, aged 24, who won $5000 in prizes.

After spending four years at Otago University studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Physical Education, Mr Smith became a farm assistant for Frank Portegys on a 140ha Morrinsville farm. He now aims to be a lower order sharemilker within three years and 50% sharemilker within six years.

He entered the Dairy Industry Awards for the experience and career benefits.

Twenty-four-year-old Cambridge farm assistant Paul Manion was second, winning $1000, and Hamilton farm assistant Jared Crawford, 27, placed third, winning $500.

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.

Waikato Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year Jason and Lisa Suisted will host a field day on April 5, while Waikato Farm Manager of the Year Chris Numan will host a field day on the Cambridge farm he manages on April 12. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.conz.

Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:
• Blackman Spargo Legal Audit Award – John Assen & Aaron Price
• Bell Booth Animal Health & Welfare Award – Hayden & Rachelle Morris
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Jason & Lisa Suisted
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Andrew & Kelly West
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Mark & Cathy Nicholas
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – David & Lisa Anderson
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Andrew & Kelly West
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Kieran & Julie Langley
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Jason & Lisa Suisted
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Hayden & Rachelle Morris

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
• NRM First Time Entrant Award – Tim & Sandra Fransen
• Staples Rodway Strategic Planning Award – D’Arcy & Michelle Matthews
• Human Resource Management Award – Tim & Sandra Fransen
• RD1 Farm Management Award – Ben Watson
• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Ben Watson

Dairy Trainee Merit Award:
• Farming Knowledge Merit Award – Paul Manion

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