The Barbours won the 2014 Waikato Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title and $17,200 in prizes at the region’s award dinner at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton last night.
The other big winners were Liam Zander, named 2014 Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, and Nathan Hubbard, who won the 2014 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year title.
The Barbours, both 28, are 50% sharemilking 355 cows for Joan De Renzy at Matamata and in their seventh season and third position 50% sharemilking.
Their goal is to progress to a larger sharemilking position and then into farm ownership within five years.
It was their first time entering the awards.
They said they entered to gain an in-depth analysis of all aspects of their farm business so they could use that information to lift performance and become better farmers.
The couple, who have two young children, said their strengths were their passion for the dairy industry and the relationships they have with the farm owner and staff.
“We enjoy putting in the effort and the sense of achievement when we reach our targets,” they said.
“We also like to work well together as a team to ensure the property is farmed in good heart.”
Second in the Waikato sharemilker/equity farmer contest was Morrinsville 50% sharemilker Aaron Price, who won $8000, and third prize went to Cambridge 50% sharemilkers Louise and Paul Nelson, who won $7000.
The winner of the 2014 Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, Laim Zander, 25, is progressing to a lower order sharemilking position in June and had his sights set on farm ownership. Zander, 25, is a farm manager for Kevin and Shona Richards at Morrinsville, milking 220 cows.
He won $11,500 in prizes.
It was the second time Zander had entered the awards, finding it beneficial to identify farming strengths and weaknesses.
“The like-minded, enthusiastic people I have met have been a great asset to my farming career, as I feel I get good sound advice from them on all aspects of farming, business and personal,” he said.
He said his current position had provided a great stepping stone in his career.
“I have grown in my abilities and I have been able to implement my own ideas and see the results.
“From managing this business I can now go on to lower order sharemilking and feel confident at taking the next step.”
With his wife Louise, Zander has goals to own a high performance herd and progress to farm ownership. He also planned to complete an agribusiness diploma.
“We are both passionate, driven people who love animals and being involved in such an ever-changing industry.”
Piopio farm managers Renee and Jesse Huffam placed second in the farm manager contest, winning $7000.
Third went to Cambridge contract milker, Ed Auton, who won $3000.
Entering the dairy industry awards last year helped Nathan Hubbard focus on how he could lift his performance.
This year Hubbard, 26, reaped the rewards by being named the 2014 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year and winning $6500 in prizes.
“The experience of entering the awards last year gave me the ambition to enter again, to try harder and to complete more studies to improve my knowledge so I would have a better chance this time around,” he said.
He was in his third season dairy farming, assisting on a 480-cow Matamata farm owned by Cameron and Lynne Houghton.
Hubbard completed his automotive apprenticeship in Christchurch before switching to dairy farming and now aims to increase equity and progress through the industry to ultimately become a farm owner. He is married to Rebecca and they have a toddler.
Putaruru second in charge Rosie Simmonds placed second in the dairy trainee contest, winning $3700 in prizes, and third palce went to Te Rauamoa second in charge Benji Gillespie, who won $3600 in prizes.
The Barbours will host a field day on April 10, while Zander will host a field day on the Morrinsville farm he manages on April 3.
Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:
DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Melissa and James Barbour
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Robyn and Greg Boswell
Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award – Katie and Hamish Flett
Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Aaron Price
LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Louise and Paul Nelson
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Louise and Paul Nelson
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Melissa and James Barbour
Triplejump Risk Management Award – Melissa and James Barbour
Westpac Business Performance Award – Aaron Price
Farm Manager Merit Awards:
Staple Rodway Strategic Planning Award – Liam Zander
Skellerup Innovation Award – Renee and Jesse Huffam
Blackman Spargo Leadership Award – Lisa Litton and Dave Hopkins
Fonterra Best Practice Award – Liam Zander
Primary ITO Human Resource Management Award – Lisa Litton and Dave Hopkins
RD1 Farm Management Award – Renee and Jesse Huffam
Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award – Liam Zander
Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:
Dairy Production Systems Farming Knowledge Award – Benji Gillespie
The Dairy Exporter Leadership Award – Rosie Simmonds
DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Benji Gillespie
