They are Tracey Collis from Eketahuna, Lisa Hicks from Ohakune and Katrina Simpson from Hokitika.
Collis, a first-term elected member of Tararua District Council, will contest the district mayoralty in the local body elections on October 8.
She is passionate about dairy farming, business viability and community resilience. She is also involved in advocacy for realistic regulation, mental health support and community engagement for dairy farmers.
She and husband Mike have farmed together for 27 years and are former regional Sharemilker of the Year winners.
Hicks, the Dairy Woman’s Network Manawatu regional group convenor, is an advocate for people with learning disabilities.
Her vision is "to assist others to achieve through onfarm training and skill development".
Hicks initiated the establishment of the Ohakune Dairy NZ discussion group and hosts local and international agri students from Land Based Training, PGG Wrightson, Massey University and students from Ruapehu High School.
Hicks and her partner Graeme Sorensen manage an 800-cow, 400ha dairy farm in Ohakune.
Simpson, a former Dairy Women’s Network regional convenor for the West Coast, holds three positions at Hokitika Scout Group.
She is group leader, directing the leaders and parent-run committee, and leader of both the Kea Scouts and Cub Scouts sections.
Since 2012 Simpson and her husband have run a dairy grazing and finishing beef operation near Hutia, following some years as 50:50 sharemilkers in South Westland.
Simpson also works fulltime as a livestock drafter for Silver Fern Farms in the area from Karamea to Haast.
Dairy Women’s Network chief executive Zelda de Villiers said Collis, Hicks and Simpson typified the thousands of women who worked at the heart of communities.
“All three of our finalists have their community at heart and it is going to be a very hard job for the judges to pick out a standout winner.
The winner will be announced at an awards evening on May 4 at the Dairy Women’s Network conference at Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton.
