Dairy Awards Winners Full of Enthusiasm

Dairy Awards Winners Full of Enthusiasm

The 2011 Auckland Hauraki Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Jeffery and Bronwyn Ward, are full of enthusiasm to learn and be challenged in what they say is an innovative and progressive industry.

The Wards entered the dairy industry in 2007 and have quickly progressed to lower order sharemilking 300 cows for Julie and John Bubb at Tirohia, near Paeroa.

The couple was one of three winners announced at the Auckland Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards dinner at Hampton Downs last night. The Auckland Hauraki Farm Manager of the Year title went to Brett Dunn and Emily McKeague, and Melissa Fogarty won the Auckland Hauraki Dairy Trainee of the Year contest.

Jeffery and Bronwyn Ward, who won nearly $15,000 in cash and prizes, had entered the awards for the first time as an investment in their business and to network.

“We thought the awards would give us an analysis and critique of our dairy business to identify strategies for profitable change.”

The couple is motivated to progress in the industry and believe their team work is a key strength. “We work as a team, complimenting each other’s strengths, and underpinning our business is the knowledge and skills of respected dairy industry individuals – our support team that help make our business profitable.”

In June the couple aims to increase their variable order sharemilking position to 600 cows and within a year they plan to be 50% sharemilking 350 cows. Ultimately they are working towards farm ownership or an equity partnership.

Second place in the Auckland Hauraki Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year contest went to Thames 25% sharemilkers Bert and Lisa Gruythuysen, winning $7000. Pukekohe 23% sharemilkers Dimitar Kolarov and Svetla Kolarova placed third, winning about $4000.

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.

The 2011 Auckland Hauraki Farm Managers of the Year Brett Dunn and Emily McKeague are well on track to reach their goal of 50% sharemilking in June 2012. The couple, both aged 24, has already purchased 152 yearling heifers that they are rearing.

Mr Dunn and Ms McKeague won $7950 in cash and prizes and are currently contract milking 420 cows for Craig Hurst at Coromandel.

It was the third time they had entered the awards and their third season dairy farming.

“Being young and adaptable and having an excellent work ethic are our business strengths. We try to set an example for our employees and we try to do everything necessary to ensure we are organised for the end of the month – we don’t want to rush jobs or repeat them.

“We’ve also had great advisors that have helped us get on the right track in order to make our business a success.”

Ngatea contract milkers Michael and Megan Webster placed second in the farm manager contest, winning $4350, and Pukekohe farm managers Paul and Amy Koppens were third, winning $3350 in cash and prizes.

The winner of the Auckland Hauraki Dairy Trainee of the Year contest, Melissa Fogarty, is keen to complete her applied science degree to gain work helping farmers improve their herd genetics.

Miss Fogarty, aged 25, won $5000 in cash and prizes and is currently a farm assistant for Kelvin and Todd Reeves at Karaka in South Auckland.

She is also competitive in equestrian events and manages a 12ha block grazing race horses, mares, foals and yearlings heading to the Karaka sales.

“Entering the awards gives you good interview skills and compares you to other people in the industry with a similar job. It also makes you think about things you can take for granted.”

Second place in the trainee contest went to 19-year-old Huntly farm assistant Josh Macdonald, winning $500, and Thames farm assistant Kylie Evans, 23, was third, winning $250.

All three winners will now compete for the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer 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 Queenstown on May 14.

Auckland Hauraki Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year Jeffery and Bronwyn Ward will host a field day on March 22, while Auckland Hauraki Farm Managers of the Year Brett Dunn and Emily McKeague will host a field day on the Coromandel farm they manage on March 29. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.conz.

Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:

• Nick Hoogeveen & Associates Strategic Planning Award – Bert & Lisa Gruythuysen
• Blackman Spargo Legal Audit Award – David Dean
• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – David Dean
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Brian & Amanda Billington
• Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Jeffery & Bronwyn Ward
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Jeffery & Bronwyn Ward
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Hans & Mandy Riemersma
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Jeffery & Bronwyn Ward
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Dimitar Kolarov & Svetla Kolarova
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Jeffery & Bronwyn Ward

Farm Manager Merit Awards:

• Thames Farm and Industrial Pride in the Property Award – Philip Boshoff
• Franklin Vets Future Aims & Attitude Award – Paul & Amy Koppens
• Human Resource Management Award – Michael & Megan Webster
• RD1 Farm Management Award – Garth Hodgson
• Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Paul & Amy Koppens

Dairy Trainee Merit Award:

• Farming Knowledge Merit Award – Thomas Herbert

ENDS

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