John is in his second season on the farm, managing for Kevin and Joanne Argyle. He has garnered plenty of value from the awards before winning this title.
“It gets you really thinking about what you’re doing,” John says.
“By having to explain to the judges why you do what you do, you get a better understanding of what you are doing and get confidence that you are doing the right things.
“You get a lot of feedback from an outsider perspective. It’s also a good way to get your name out there and raise your profile in the industry.”
Focus was a big factor in John’s success this time around.
Remaining on the same farm for the coming season, John is aiming to progress straight from his management position to a herd-owning, sharemilking position and has saved a signifi cant proportion of what he needs from his salaried jobs.
His goal is to own his own farm by the time he is 35, 10 years from now. He has started towards that goal by building up his stock numbers through rearing calves.
“I’ve learned a lot where I am at the moment and there’s no point jumping to something else if it’s not going to help me get to where I’m going quicker.”
Jarrod and Nikki Greenwood, contract milkers near Opiki, were runners-up in the Farm Manager category. Third place went to Rangiwahia farm managers Jon and Crystal Cranshaw.
