Hot off the Press-NZ Dairy Industry Awards Trust - 2009 Dairy Awards Calling for entries

ENTRIES OPEN IN 2009 DAIRY AWARDS

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are now calling for entries in its 2009 competitions from sharemilkers, farm managers and dairy trainees keen to progress in the industry.

National Convenor Chris Keeping says organisers hope more than 400 dairy farmers will enter the three competitions – the Sharemilker of the Year, Farm Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year - nationwide.

She says this is just the second time the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has run the three competitions, culminating in national finals for all three.

“The awards are now structured to enable people to progress through the awards as a person progresses through the dairy industry – from farm worker to farm manager to sharemilker and ultimately farm ownership.

“At the same time, we seek to encourage best practice and the sharing of excellence and also identify and promote the dairy industry’s future leaders,” she says.

“We also like to have a lot of fun, as past entrants and winners can testify.”

Ms Keeping says there are significant incentives on offer for dairy farmers to enter.

“There are thousands of dollars and other prizes to be won, significant recognition to be gained from success and a lot to be learnt from entering – either from judges, other entrants and industry or sponsor representatives that entrants network with.”

The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, Blue Wing Honda, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner Agriculture ITO.

Ms Keeping says entries are invited for the three awards within the 12 regional competitions that cover the entire country.

The regional competitions can offer prize pools in excess of $50,000, with the three regional winners all progressing to the national finals and the opportunity to be named New Zealand Sharemilker of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year or New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Entries close in early January, with entry forms available from regional convenors, sponsors or downloaded from the awards website, www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.