The awards are a chance for entrants to secure their future while learning and connecting with others and growing their careers.
The 2019 Share Farmers of the Year say the benefits to their career and business from entering are worth the effort and time.
Colin and Isabella Beazley won the 2019 Northland Share Farmers of the Year and went on to win the national title as well. They entered to benchmark themselves against the best and also for the networking opportunities.
“The networking and contact with industry leaders is unparalleled and we have used these relationships to grow our business.”
Their advice to potential entrants is to remember evidence is key.
“If you can’t prove it to the judges they simply cannot mark it so keeping good records is paramount,” Isabella says.
“Sorting through and collating everything that farmers do daily can take time so start now if you’re thinking of entering.
“As a busy farmer you can get caught up in the day-to-day running of the farm so stand back and watch our presentation. Visually, seeing the nine plywood boards plastered with our collated evidence and setting up our machinery for display and effect was quite eye-opening for us,” Colin says.
“It made us super proud of how far our industry has allowed us to grow and excited for the prospects of where it can take us.”
They say anyone thinking of entering should just go for it.
“We 110% recommend entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards,” they say.
“Firstly, the industry networking is invaluable. Second, the judges are industry experts and the constructive feedback that you’ll receive is a great way to grow your business and career in the dairy industry.
“Last but not least is time off-farm. Being able to flick off the cow-poo clothes and don some suave suits and flash heels to enjoy some time with others within our industry who get what it’s like to be a farmer too is also just as rewarding as the event itself.
“If you’re striving for more in our industry definitely sign up and see where the awards journey takes you.”
Canterbury’s Matt Redmond, the 2019 Dairy Manager of the Year, agrees and says the awards process provides plenty of opportunities for entrants. He entered to meet new people and identify areas where he was doing well and those where improvements could be made.
“You have absolutely nothing to lose,” he says.
“You meet heaps of people and learn a lot about yourself and your farm and the way you farm it. I really enjoyed it.
“It is a bit of work but you get out of it what you put into it and make sure everything you say, you have evidence to back it up.”
The advice he gives to others thinking about entering is to talk to others who have been through the process or visit them.
“Winning is definitely the highlight of my career,” he said.
“Through the awards I have met a range of people on-farm and from different farming backgrounds with different ideas that have challenged me on-farm.
“The awards and the feedback have allowed me to grow and continue to develop as a dairy farmer.”
The awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy, and Ravensdown with industry partners DairyNZ and Primary ITO.
To find out more about the Awards or to register to enter Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year or Dairy Trainee of the Year go to www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
