Judging Begins In Dairy Awards

For Immediate Release
3 February 2009

Judging Begins In Dairy Awards

The process of selecting winners in the 2009 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards begins this month, with teams of regional judges interviewing nearly 400 entrants.

Judging takes place throughout February as the awards – incorporating the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year – begin the process of narrowing the entrants down to just 36 regional winners, three winners from each of the 12 competing regions.

National convenor Chris Keeping says about 200 judges take part in the process, often described as one of the most rewarding facets of entering the competition.

“Each year, many of the entrants tell us they gain so much from the judging process as the judges are often experienced farmers who are able to offer bits of advice and information. It’s all good stuff,” Ms Keeping says.

One of those regional judges is Dannevirke dairy farmer and chartered accountant Sandra Cordell. A previous regional sharemilker of the year winner, Mrs Cordell has been involved in the competition in some way since winning in 1999 and this year it will be her fourth time being part of a regional judging team.

“Judging reinvigorates you,” she says. “You meet the people coming through the industry and they have got passion and enthusiasm. It’s a great atmosphere and there’s a very supportive environment in this competition for the organisers, sponsors, judges and entrants.”

Mrs Cordell says entrants should prepare a timetable for judging that allows time to cover everything they want to say. “Entrants need to present themselves to the judges, telling us how they do things and what they do, but still treat it as a business interview.

“When we entered, we benefited because we took the time to evaluate our business and our goals. You gain so many contacts and networking continues long after the competition is over. It is an excellent way to get your name out there,” she says.

The 36 regional winners will all progress to the national finals and the opportunity to be named New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year. They will also vie for prizes worth more than $100,000 when the finals are held in Wellington in May.

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

A full schedule of the regional awards dinners can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

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