Judges Test Dairy Awards Finalists

For Immediate Release
16 April 2008

Judges Test Dairy Awards Finalists

The 36 finalists in the 2008 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards may be feeling a little uneasy – with national judges quizzing them on all aspects of their dairy farm management and business.

“Having already been through the judges process once, if not twice, in their regional competitions, the finalists should be a little more prepared for the next onslaught of judging,” National Convenor Chris Keeping says.

“The big difference is there’s a lot more at stake and the judges will be expecting a lot more of these finalists.”

This is the first year the awards have run three competitions under its umbrella – the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year.

There are 12 regional finalists in each of the awards and they are competing for a total prize pool of more than $100,000 at the National Awards Dinner in Christchurch on May 24.

The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Fonterra, RD1, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, and Honda, along with industry partner Agriculture ITO.

“The first regional winners were announced in late February, while our last winners from Southland weren’t known until last week – obviously they’ve less time to prepare for the finals judges, but they may have the advantage of being on a high from their win.”

Ms Keeping says the finalists in the New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year competition range from a young couple aged in their early 20’s, to recent immigrants to New Zealand, to those having switched careers to dairying and those that have slowly but surely progressed through the industry.

“It’s a bit of guys versus girls in the New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year awards, with three women competing against nine men (or couples) for national honours.

The dairy trainee award is new this year and is being run by the Agriculture ITO.

“It has uncovered some ambitious young people using the resources available in the industry to advance their careers,” Ms Keeping says.

The New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year Finalists are:
• Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua – Stefan & Hester Bryant
• Hawke’s Bay Wairarapa – Ben & Nicky Allomes
• Northland – Dean & Tania Mischeski
• Waikato – Brock & Janine Fiske
• Auckland Hauraki – Ciaran & Sarah Tully
• Bay of Plenty – Richard & Louise Hamilton
• Central Plateau – Bryan & Tesha Gibson
• Taranaki – Grant & Tessa Honeyfield
• West Coast Top of the South – Taine Little & Rachel Williams
• Canterbury North Otago – Paul Mercer & Desiree Reid
• Otago – Greg & Kelly Kirkwood
• Southland – Stacey & Olivia Frost

The Farm Manager of the Year finalists are:
• Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua – Arno Renes
• Hawke’s Bay Wairarapa – Kevin Davidson
• Northland – Charlotte Greaves
• Waikato – Olin Greenan
• Auckland Hauraki - Tomoko Ishijima
• Bay of Plenty – Scott & Chantal Hindrup
• Central Plateau – Dana Richards
• Taranaki – Kieran Bourke
• West Coast Top of the South – Peter & Helen McLaren
• Canterbury North Otago – Nick Hoogeveen
• Otago – Daniel Gordon
• Southland – Glenn & Lynne Johnston

The Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists are:
• Manawatu Rangitikei Horowhenua – Shea Stevenson
• Hawke’s Bay Wairarapa – Liam Kelly
• Northland – Cameron Mitchell
• Waikato – Timothy Fransen
• Auckland Hauraki – Hayden Slack
• Bay of Plenty – David Hohneck
• Central Plateau – Shaun Gardner
• Taranaki – Simon Adams
• West Coast Top of the South – Tristan Wastney
• Canterbury North Otago – Koji Wada
• Otago – Gerard Evans
• Southland – Jonathan Breach

Tickets to the National Awards Dinner being held at the Christchurch Convention Centre on May 24 cost $85 per person and can be obtained by contacting Federated Farmers on free phone 0800 327 646.

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