For Immediate Release

8 January 2014

Bumper Dairy Trainees Boost 2014 Dairy Awards

Nearly 300 entries have been received in the 2014 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competition, boosting overall entries in the 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards to a record 572.

National convenor Chris Keeping says the response from dairy trainees has been “phenomenal”.

“It is such a positive indicator for the dairy industry to have so many young people putting themselves forward to have their skills tested and to raise their profile and position in the industry.”

Mrs Keeping says 292 entries were received in the trainee contest, up from 251 last year and just over 100 in 2008 when the contest began.

“Interest in the trainee contest is growing each year and we like to think the awards experience does help to motivate, lift confidence and enhance industry enthusiasm for those who enter.”

She says all trainee entrants have to be aged less than 30 years and have been in the industry less than five years.

“It is extremely competitive for those that enter. One of the best bits about it is the friends they make with other trainee entrants that are also focused on progressing in the industry.”

There were 115 entries received in the 2014 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year contest and 165 entries received in the New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year.

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

The entrants are split among 11 regional competitions, with Canterbury/North Otago receiving the most entries overall with 73 entrants. Of those entrants, 40 alone are entered in the region’s dairy trainee competition.

The Southland/Otago and Waikato regions weren’t far behind with 66 and 64 entries respectively and the Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa region received 60 entries.

Mrs Keeping says entrants are now being invited to attend entrant events this month to learn about what to expect with judging. Judging will begin in the South Island at the end of January and the first regional winners will be announced in early March.

Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for more information.

ENDS

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