The couple won the 2014 Manawatu Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title last night, taking home $17,500 in prizes.
They were runners-up in the competition last year.
“One of the benefits of the awards is that it does raise your profile in the industry and so opportunities are now coming to us,” the Frasers said.
“People are also now coming to us to seek advice.”
The other big winners at the region’s awards dinner were Sam Ebbett, the Manawatu Farm Manager of the Year and Hayley Hoogendyk who won the 2014 Manawatu Dairy Trainee of the Year.
The Frasers are 22% sharemilking 440 cows at Feilding for Des and Marion Webb.
They operate a low cost system and are targeting production of 200,000kg milksolids this season.
“Low cost does provide excellent returns if you are willing to put the effort in, as costs are not that variable from year to year,” they said.
The couple, 38 and 32, aim to maintain a desirable work and life balance.
They plan to grow their business through wise investment in opportunities to achieve their ultimate goal of retirement by 2035.
“The awards have put us in contact with people that can help grow our business.”
Another goal of theirs is to be a role model in the industry, by achieving industry key performance indicators around farm management.
The runner-up in the sharemilker/equity farmer contest was Sanson equity farm manager Aaron Taylor, who won $8900.
Third place went to Ashhurst 21% sharemilkers Ben and Lizzie Ash, winning $7400 in prizes.
There will be big celebrations on the Feilding farm leased by Te Paratai Farms.
The equity partnership’s farm manager and his assistant won the region’s 2014 farm manager and dairy trainee titles.
Ebbett, who has entered the dairy trainee contest previously, introduced Hoogendyk to the awards and has been a source of help and insight.
“Sam is never short of questions or offers of help due to my constant pursuit of knowledge and desire to continue in dairying,” Hoogendyk said.
Ebbett, 24, said the awards had enabled him to network with industry professionals and other farmers, as well as detail his strengths and weaknesses within the business.
“They gave me areas which I could focus on,” he said.
“My strengths are in animal husbandry, as I have a really deep connection with my herd and understand the importance of them, and pasture management.
“It’s something I really enjoy doing and monitoring.”
He won $10,750 in prizes.
He has been in the industry five years and aims to be 50% sharemilking by 2019.
Hoogendyk, who won $5700 in prizes, completed a Bachelor of Business Studies at Massey University and worked in event management before choosing to switch careers to dairy farming.
“I stepped outside my comfort zone and tried my hand at relief milking on a 450 cow farm,” she said.
“After showing my ability to learn fast and adapt to new situations I was offered a fulltime job within the week.
“I went from a 40 hour a week office job to a 70 hour a week slog at the height of calving, but I was absolutely hooked.”
Hoogendyk, 25, said her current farm position – on a small farm with adequate staff – allows her time to study.
She plans to complete Primary ITO Level 5 production and effluent management courses in the coming year.
“My expectation is to also grow my current dairy herd of five cows by 10 cows each season.
“This will allow me to gain equity and financial independence while not risking my business model with large loans or unmanageable overheads in the event of drought or a poor season.”
Hoogendyk plans to progress in the industry to be 50% sharemilking by 2022.
“This will put me in a position where I can explore cutting edge dairy concepts and be part of the future growth of dairy farming in New Zealand.”
Second place in the 2014 Manawatu Farm Manager of the Year competition went to Palmerston North farm manager Jagath Kukule Kankanamge, who won $5750.
Longburn contract milker Jarrod Greenwood was third, winning $4050 in prizes.
The 2013 Manawatu Dairy Trainee of the Year runner-up is Opiki farm assistant Blake Moore, who won $3200 in prizes.
Third place went to Longburn farm assistant Paul Mercer, winning $900.
The Frasers will host a field day on March 26.
Ebbett will host a field day on the Feilding farm he manages on April 1.
Further details on the winners and field days can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:
Naylor Lawrence and Associates Strategic Planning Award – Aaron Taylor
DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Ben and Lizzie Ash
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Duncan and Kim Fraser
Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Aaron Taylor
Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Ben and Lizzie Ash
LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Mat Hocken
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Ben and Lizzie Ash
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Duncan and Kim Fraser
Triplejump Risk Management Award – Brendan and Lisa Sharland
Westpac Business Performance Award – Duncan and Kim Fraser
Farm Manager Merit Awards:
Bell Booth Best Livestock Award – Jagath Kukule Kankanamge
MacDougalls Leadership Award – Sam Ebbett
Fonterra Best Practice Award – Sam Ebbett
Primary ITO Human Resource Management Award – Quentin and Stephanie Bruntlett
RD1 Farm Management Award – Jagath Kukule Kankanamge
Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Jarrod Greenwood
Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:
Horizons Regional Council Farming Knowledge Award – Blake Moore
Massey Agriculture Leadership Award – Guy Harvey
DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Blake Moore
