Young Waikato Dairy Awards Winner Going For Gold

Young Waikato Dairy Awards Winner Going For Gold

The 2010 Waikato Sharemilker of the Year, Bas Nelis, may have just made himself the most eligible farmer in the country – the ambitious 23-year-old aims to be a farm owner by the time he is 30.

Mr Nelis took out the top award at the Waikato Dairy Industry Awards dinner held at Bledisloe Hall, Mystery Creek, last night, taking home $15,500 in cash and prizes.

The 2010 Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, William McKnight, and 2010 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year, Dan Wong, were also announced.

Mr Nelis joined the dairy industry as a 16-year-old farm assistant. A year later he was a farm manager and by the age of 19 he was 50% sharemilking 180 cows. He aims to be sharemilking 800 cows next year and 1200 cows by 2014.

“I see large scale sharemilking as the best way to achieve my goal to own a farm by 30.”

He is currently 50% sharemilking 500 cows for his parents, Hans and Anita Nelis, at Tirau and says his farm business, Hold the Gold, is generating high returns.

“My biggest strength is I have a great understanding of my financials, allowing me to control all costs and income and receive the highest return possible.”

He is also active off the farm, in discussion groups, AgITO, and Young Farmers. “I’ve been given a lot of great opportunities in this industry and I hope to further grow them through this competition and to also give back to others.”

Second place in the Waikato Sharemilker of the Year contest went to Gordonton 50% sharemilkers, Jason and Lisa Suisted, and third place went to Te Awamutu 50% sharemilkers, Hamish and Lisa Lile. They won $8500 and $4600 respectively.

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 William McKnight won the 2010 Waikato Farm Manager of the Year title, collecting $8000 in cash and prizes. Mr McKnight is managing a 74ha farm wintering 250 cows for John and Maria Numan.

He entered the contest for the first time this year to raise his profile, for the challenge and to learn. With wife Jo, the couple is keen to go 50% sharemilking and to grow their farming business.

“We have a huge passion for dairy farming and a love for cows. We enjoy the lifestyle it brings and take great pride in what we do.”

Second place in the Waikato Farm Manager of the Year competition went to Greg and Robyn Boswell, who are contract milking on a 230ha farm near Hamilton. They won $4500 in cash and prizes.

Waharoa contract milkers Chris Bedford and Kate Pittard placed third, winning $3000.

In his first season dairy farming, 32-year-old Dan Wong has won the 2010 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year contest, winning $3750. He is currently a farm assistant on Wilma and Frano Matijasevich’s 84ha Waharoa farm.

A carpenter by trade, Mr Wong was building rotary farm dairies for Broomfield Construction before deciding to go dairy farming.

“I entered the award as I was encouraged by my tutor who thought I would benefit from the experience – and I have. It has been a great way to build some confidence. Being so new to the industry, self confidence is a key driver to rapid personal development.

“I have loved farming so far and look forward to the future,” he says.

With his partner Vinka, they aim to become equity partners in a dairy business.

All three winners will now compete for the New Zealand Sharemilker 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 Rotorua on May 15.

Waikato Sharemilker of the Year Bas Nelis will host a field day on March 31, while Waikato Farm Manager of the Year William McKnight will host a field day on the Cambridge farm he manages on April 7. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

Sharemilker Merit Awards:
• Allied Farmers Best Variable Percentage Management Award – David & Maria Klaus
• Animal Health Centre Animal Health and Welfare Award – Hamish & Katie Flett
• Staples Rodway First Time Entrant Award – David & Maria Klaus
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Jason & Lisa Suisted
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Jason & Lisa Suisted
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Hamish & Lisa Lile
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Jason & Lisa Suisted
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Bas Nelis
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Bas Nelis
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Bas Nelis
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Bas Nelis

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
• Effluent Irrigation Services Best Endeavour Award – Anthony Navin
• DairyNZ Human Resource Management Award – Greg & Robyn Boswell
• RD1 Farm Management Award – William McKnight
• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Chris Bedford & Kate Pittard

ENDS

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