Awards general manager Robin Congdon said the team was thrilled to welcome Milton farmer Louise Sahin and Manawatu farmer Maegan Legg to the group and he looked forward to working closely with them.

“We are excited to have new members on board who will bring different skill sets and experiences that will complement our existing members.

“They will work closely with the other members and the management team to help with the continuous evaluation and development of the award programme and help us engage with the regional committees and entrants across the country.”

Mrs Sahin and her husband entered the share farmer category five years ago.

She said she was thrilled to now be in a position to give back to the programme.

“I found the experience to be a great opportunity to learn about our business, our strengths and our weaknesses and [it] allowed us to explore new business opportunities we hadn’t previously considered.

“I believe it’s important for industry-led programmes to stay ahead of developments within the dairy industry and continue to share the good farming stories.”

Mrs Legg and her husband won the 2020 Manawatu Share Farmer of the Year title and she was the 2021 and 2022 Regional Manager and 2021 and 2023 Share Farmer Team Leader.

This year she has also taken on the role of skills day co-ordinator for the region.

“I have a passion for personal growth and believe the awards programme is an amazing avenue to really understand your own passion and drive, both within and beyond the dairy industry,” she said.

“I feel very positive about the changes that have already been made to all categories and look forward to working with the team to solidify changes moving forward.”