“It’s a really busy and fulfilling time as they gain feedback and also re-evaluate their goals and how they can best achieve them,” national convenor Chris Keeping said.
The finalists were competing in Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions, for cash and prizes from a $160,000 prize pool.
She said there were some standout features of this year’s group of finalists.
“This year’s bunch demonstrates the higher degree of professionalism being required in the industry as many hold bachelors degrees.
“It is also really pleasing to see the number of females competing in the dairy trainee contest and the number of finalists that have progressed in the dairy industry awards, having been past regional winners at a lower level.”
Details of the field days are available at dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year finalists:
• Northland – Lance and Stephanie Oliver
• Auckland/Hauraki – Bryce and Rosemarie Costar
• Waikato – James and Melissa Barbour
• Bay of Plenty – Brett and Natasha Grindrod
• Central Plateau – Donald and Kirsten Watson
• Taranaki – Charlie and Johanna McCaig
• Manawatu – Duncan and Kim Fraser
• Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa – Tony and Zoe Kuriger
• West Coast/Top of the South – Chris and Carla Staples
• Canterbury/North Otago – Kevin and Sara O’Neill
• Southland/Otago – Steve Henderson and Tracy Heale
Farm Manager of the Year finalists:
• Northland – Michael and Donna Carroll
• Auckland/Hauraki – Simon Player
• Waikato – Liam Zander
• Bay of Plenty – Thomas Blackett & Stacey Lepper
• Central Plateau – Robert Hartley
• Taranaki – Michael Shearer
• Manawatu – Sam Ebbett
• Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa – Nick Bertram
• West Coast/Top of the South – Jason Macbeth
• Canterbury/North Otago – Phillip Colombus
• Southland/Otago – Jared Crawford
Dairy Trainee of the Year finalists:
• Northland – Matthew Snedden
• Auckland/Hauraki – Marion Reynolds
• Waikato – Nathan Hubbard
• Bay of Plenty – Cameron Luxton
• Central Plateau – Ruth Hone
• Taranaki – Ben Frost
• Manawatu – Hayley Hoogendyk
• Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa – Alice Gysbertsen
• West Coast/Top of the South – Amy White
• Canterbury/North Otago – Isaac Vujcich
• Southland/Otago – Josh Lavender
