Thursday, March 28, 2024

Central Plateau Dairy Awards winners on track to achieve shared vision

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The Central Plateau Dairy Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year winners, Donald and Kirsten Watson, have a shared vision.
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They took home the top prize, worth $17,000, at an awards dinner at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua last night.

The couple’s vision to achieve financial independence and personal fulfilment was set in 2009 and remained unchanged.

“We would continue to grow equity in order to enable us to buy an 800-cow farm in 2020,” they said.

“Personal fulfilment means to us enjoying what we do and always remembering life is a journey and not the destination.”

Donald and Kirsten Watson were in their first season 50:50 sharemilking 990 cows for Glenn and Karen Speed at Taupo after working as mixed animal veterinarians.

“We have found the dairy industry to be full of supportive people with immense knowledge they are willing to share.

“Resources are made easily available and there is no shortage of opportunities to learn and grow.”

The Watsons, both 38, said their strengths were their shared vision, values and goals, and their willingness to use resources to learn, as well as grow their skills and knowledge.

“We aren’t afraid to innovate, to try new things and to step outside the square.

“We have learnt to budget, record, monitor, analyse, benchmark and review.

“We ask for help and support if required and surround ourselves with fantastic people.”

The runners-up in the sharemilker/equity farmer contest for the second year running were Rotorua 24% sharemilkers Alistair and Sarah Coatsworth.

They won $9150 in prizes.

The other big winners at the 2014 Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards were Robert Hartley, the Farm Manager of the Year, and Ruth Hone, the Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Hartley said the biggest asset he had was integrity as the farm he managed was a multi-million dollar operation.

“There was a lot of trust that goes both ways,” he said.

“I needed to know that my employer has my best interest at heart and likewise he needed to know that I was always acting in the best interest of the company.

“Having a robust structure and policies in place was also important as the structure gives a lot of direction and also reassurance on farm.”

Hartley, 36, was running the 865-cow farm for Trevor and Harriet Hamilton and entered the awards for the first time for a challenge.

He won $11,300 in prizes.

He began dairy farming in 2003, after leaving a career in information technology.

He had worked for the Hamiltons since 2008 and was interested in moving into an equity position on a farm.

“I would one day like to take the knowledge I have and implement it on a farm of my own.”

Tokoroa contract milkers Nathan and Elri Levin placed second in the farm manager contest, winning $4750 in prizes.

Reporoa farm manager Tracey Astle, who won $2175, was third.

The 2014 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year, Hone, entered the awards for a second time as it gave her the discipline to learn the theory behind practical farming.

“The judges also provided helpful feedback.”

Hone, 24, won $8050 in prizes.

She was in her third season in the industry, working on a 250-cow farm for Michelle and Ross Davison near Taupo.

After completing a Bachelor of Applied Science at Massey University she spent two years dairying in Hawkes Bay before moving to the region.

Her goal was to be lower order sharemilking within four years.

Second place in the trainee contest went to Rotorua farm assistant Samuel Travers, who won $1750.

Third went to Whakamaru 2IC Gerard van der Mark, who won $2600 in prizes.

The Watsons will host a field day on April 9 and Hartley will host one on April 2. Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:
BlackmanSpargo Legal Audit Award – Alistair and Sarah Coatsworth
DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Alistair and Sarah Coatsworth
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Byron Horner and Hannah Massey
Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Donald and Kirsten Watson
Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Alistair and Sarah Coatsworth
LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Campbell and Katie Wheeler
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Hayden and Narelle Hilhorst
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Donald and Kirsten Watson
Triplejump Risk Management Award – Andres Montero
Westpac Business Performance Award – Donald and Kirsten Watson

Farm Manager Merit Awards:
The Vet Club Best Livestock Award – Robert Hartley
BOP Regional Council Leadership Award – Robert Hartley
Fonterra Best Practice Award – Tracey Astle
Primary ITO Human Resource Management Award – Robert Hartley
RD1 Farm Management Award – Robert Hartley
Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Nathan and Elri Levin

Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:
T H Enterprises Ltd Farming Knowledge Award – Ruth Hone
Rotorua District Council Leadership Award – Ruth Hone
DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Gerard van der Mark

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