Sky’s The Limit For Dairy Awards Winners

For Immediate Release
28 September 2012

Sky’s The Limit For Dairy Awards Winners

Entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has given Enda and Sarah Hawe the confidence to back themselves in the job they are doing on farm.

The Hawes won the 2012 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year competition in May, just before they progressed to a new position 50% sharemilking 680 cows at Oxford in North Canterbury.

Enda Hawe says the dairy industry awards had taught them they can achieve their goals. “The sky is the limit for us now in that the dairy awards have opened many doors of opportunity.

“I know we won. But I know that we were already winners for entering as the experiences you gain from meeting other like-minded people as well as the advantage given to your business are just fantastic.”

Sarah Hawe says the key benefit from entering and participating in the awards had been business improvement.

“We received a lot of tips along the way and discovered things that we should be doing that we weren’t aware of and how to improve the processes that we already had in place.”

The couple now has a formal procedure for staff appraisal that has led to a better understanding of staff motivation and aspirations. “It’s helped us understand what our staff want to get out of the job and how we can help them,” she says.
The relationships the couple has with their rural professionals had also strengthened. “To be honest when we first entered the awards our relationship with our bank manager wasn’t what it is today. Our relationships with the key people that you need to succeed – your bank manager, accountant etc – are much stronger.”

Entries for the 2013 awards, including the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions, open on November 1.

The Hawes encourage all to enter. “It’s a free audit for your farm and it makes you raise your own bar.”

The New Zealand 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 AgITO.

Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for more information.

ENDS

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