Final Countdown for Dairy Award FInalists

Media release
12 April 2007

It’s the Final Countdown for Dairy Industry Awards Finalists

Following 12 high profile regional awards staged throughout the country, the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards have identified 10 Farm Managers and 12 Sharemillker finalists who will go on to represent their regions at the National Awards to be held in Invercargill on May 12.

Before then, however, each finalist will be visited on farm by a team of three judges and given the opportunity to showcase just what they have achieved to earn their place in the final.

The awards’ sponsors - Westpac, Dairy InSight, Fonterra, RD1, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, Federated Farmers, Ecolab, Honda and ACC, along with industry partner Dexcel – are among the many people at all levels of the dairy industry anticipating the outcome.

“The final results are a closely guarded secret, with tension and excitement building to the final announcements. In fact, the final decisions aren’t made until late on the afternoon of the gala awards event,” says Dairy Industry Awards management committee chairwoman Alison Watters.

In addition to the on-farm judging, finalists will meet a team of interview judges in Invercargill who will assess their communications skills.

“This will be important should they go on to take the role of dairy industry ambassador as New Zealand Farm Manager or Sharemilker of the Year,” Alison says.

With more than $100,000 in prizes up for grabs at the national awards, the stakes are high.

For more information about each of the finalists go to www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz

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2007 Dairy Industry Awards Finalists

Regional Sharemilkers:

Top of the North: Brian and Paulette Johns
Auckland/Hauraki: Dan and Sarah Murdock
Waikato: Craig and Hannah Fulton
Taranaki: Christopher and Catherine Cook and James Murphy:
Central Plateau: Matt Pepper and Louise Marillier
Bay of Plenty: Peter and Jenny Sinclair
Manawatu/Rangitikei/Horowhenua: Arjan and Tracy van der Straaten
Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa: Andrew and Monika Arbuthnott
West Coast Top of the South: Matt and Sally Gallant
Canterbury: Matt and Julie Ross
Otago: Mark Watt and Kylie May
Southland: Donald Kidd and Loshni Manikam

Regional Farm Managers

Top of the North: Dave and Donnella Ruatara
Central Plateau: Sam and Davina Webb
Auckland: Ross Conder
Waikato: Eon Wallace
Bay of Plenty: Matthew Standish
Lower North Island: Michael and Lisa Wood
West Coast/Top of the South: James Burnby
Canterbury: Shaun and Joanne Back
Otago: Nigel Snell and Joanne Ede
Southland: Daniel Woolsey and Emily Fraser

ENDS

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