The couple were announced winners of the Share Farmer of the Year competition at the 2016 West Coast-Top of the South Dairy Industry Awards annual awards dinner held at Shantytown last night. The other big winners were Matt Birchfield, who became the region’s 2016 Dairy Manager of the Year, and Del Bruce, the 2016 Dairy Trainee of the Year.
Jesse Huffam and Renee Mason, aged 26 and 28, are contract milking 900 cows for Dairy Holdings at Springs Junction, Lewis Pass, and won $12,120 in prizes.
The couple previously farmed in the King Country and placed second in the 2014 Waikato Farm Manager of the Year awards.
“We found the benefits from entering the competition were gaining a huge amount of confidence in ourselves, taking on constructive criticism, increased capability and giving us the self-belief that encouraged us to take the next big step in our journey to contract milking in the South Island.
“Entering the awards has allowed us to excel in the dairy industry to the point where we are today.”
Both graduates of Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre, the couple aim to grow stock numbers and progress to a sharemilking position with the ultimate goal of farm ownership. “We would like to buy marginal land and pioneer it.
“We also aim to build a high BW herd that ranks in the top 5% in the country and to one day have a bull in the LIC sire team, which we will call Big Wednesday”
They say Dairy Holdings has provided a supportive environment and wealth of knowledge. “Dairy Holdings gives you the room to grow and learn and the guidance required to be successful and have common goals that can be achieved.”
South Africans Darryl and Tammy Schwartz, 43 and 34, placed second in the share farmer competition. The Kowhitirangi 50:50 sharemilkers won $5425 in prizes. Ahaura 50:50 sharemilkers, Blessing and Patricia Hwata, were third and won $5925 in prizes.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy, New Zealand Farm Source and Ravensdown, along with industry partner Primary ITO.
The 2016 West Coast-Top of the South Dairy Manager of the Year, Matt Birchfield, entered the awards for the first time to gain experience, further his farming knowledge and learn what he needs to improve on.
The 36-year-old is production manager on Murray and Gaye Coates’ 785-cow Haupiri farm, Prospect Farm, and won $7630 in prizes. He spent five years in the industry on leaving school and then returned in 2014 after working for a variety of companies associated with the rural sector.
A father to five children and with no high school bus at the gate, Birchfield says he is considering his future opportunities.
“We feel we have two options and they are to go independent managing or contract milking. We have the dream to own our own farm in the next 10 years.”
He says Prospect Farms uses technology well in its day-to-day operations and has a positive team approach.
“We pride ourselves on our great team environment – we have great communication skills and really look after each other just like we are a family.”
Birchfield is studying with Primary ITO, working to gain his helicopter licence and is also a keen huntsman in his spare time.
Dobson farm manager Rochelle Roberts, 29, placed second in the dairy manager competition, winning $5580 in prizes, and 2015 West Coast-Top of the South Dairy Trainee of the Year Danny Mitchell was third, winning $3000. Mitchell, 25, is a Koromiko herd manager.
It was a trifecta for the ladies in the 2016 West Coast-Top of the South Dairy Trainee of the Year competition, with women filling the top three places.
All three farm in the Top of the South area.
Del Bruce, 25, claimed the title and $5360 in prizes. She is 2IC on Mark and Julie Freeman’s 280-cow farm at Rainy River. She is employed by Jamie and Felicity Thomas and had entered the awards once previously.
“The benefits are great and include the experience and knowledge you gain, and you also get to meet like-minded people in the industry.”
She grew up on a dairy farm at Maruia and has returned to dairy farming after trying different occupations.
“I’ve settled on dairying and found that it’s what I love. I have been full-time for about two years now.”
Her goal is to progress to a farm manager’s position. Another is to race dirt bikes on the national cross-country and enduro scene. “It’s my passion.”
Lydia Freeman, a 20-year-old Takaka farm assistant, was second in the trainee competition, winning $2500 in prizes, and third place and $2250 in prizes went to Sarah Parkes, a 19-year-old Blenheim assistant herd manager.
The West Coast-Top of the South Dairy Industry Awards winners field day will be held on April 21 on the Springs Junction farm where Share Farmers of the Year, Jesse Huffam and Renee Mason, contract milk. Also presenting at the field day will be the region’s Dairy Manager of the Year, Matt Birchfield, Dairy Trainee of the Year, Del Bruce, and the region’s 2004 Sharemilker of the Year, Peter Langford. Further details on the winners and the field day can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
Share Farmer Merit Awards:
DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Jesse Huffam and Renee Mason
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Jesse Huffam and Renee Mason
Federated Farmers Leadership Award – Brian and Hannah Dineen
Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Jesse Huffam and Renee Mason
LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Blessing and Patricia Hwata
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Blessing and Patricia Hwata
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Michael and Cheryl Shearer
Westpac Business Performance Award – Darryl and Tammy Schwartz
Dairy Manager Merit Awards:
Landcorp Farming Employee Engagement Award – Rochelle Roberts
Reliance Feed Brand Leadership Award – Matt Birchfield
Fonterra Farm Source Feed Management Award – Rochelle Roberts
DeLaval Livestock Management Award – Danny Mitchell
Primary ITO Power Play Award – Rochelle Roberts
Fonterra Farm Source Farm Management Award – Jack Rauharuhi
Westpac Financial Management and Planning Award – Matt Birchfield
Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:
Jeff Evans Most Promising Entrant Award – Scott Johnson
Dispatch and Garlick Farming Knowledge Award – Ashleigh Hoebergen
Gordon Handy Machinery Community and Industry Involvement Award – Sarah Parkes
DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Lydia Freeman
