The search is on once again for the cream of the dairy industry with entries for the 2024 Dairy Industry Awards now open.
Now in its 34th year, the Awards are an opportunity for entrants to secure their future while learning and connecting with others and growing their career.
NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon says the Awards are not only a prestigious programme with hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes, they are a learning platform.
“The Awards promote best practice within the dairy industry and give entrants the chance to challenge themselves, connect with others, and earn a regional or national title and to share in substantial regional and national prize pools.”
This year’s Share Farmer entrants will be in the running to win a CowManager system for three years and a share of the national prize pool worth hundreds of thousands of dollars..
Following a busy winter season, organisers met in Rotorua for their annual conference to discuss the 2024 Awards.
Organisers will deliver more than 60 events and numerous judging days. These will include regional launch events which provide an opportunity for prospective entrants to find out more information about the Awards and which category people are eligible to enter. Combined, the events will connect 6,000 people to the awards process.
Congdon says the regional launch events are typically a lot of fun and provide an opportunity to meet other potential entrants, organisers and sponsors and to learn about the awards from past entrants.
“The functions are very social, with no charge, and are at a time that makes it easy for farmers to attend.”
The 2023 National Share Farmer of the Year winners, Hayden and Bridget Goble from Taranaki, encourage people to give the awards a go.
“The Awards are an awesome process to be involved in,” Goble says.
“Bridget and I found being able to test ourselves against others and judges looking over our business and giving their expert opinion, was invaluable.”
Having to put their business under a microscope was time-consuming, but they reaped the rewards in more ways than one.
“During the whole process, we had to really look into our business. That kind of scrutiny really gives you an insight into what you are doing, why you are doing it, what you are doing right and identifies areas you need to work on. For us, that was a huge benefit.
“And the financial and social networking rewards can’t be overlooked.”
The Awards encompass New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year and the Fonterra Responsible Dairying of the Year categories and entries are accepted online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
Online entries don’t close until midnight December 5. However, those that enter before midnight on October 27, 2023 will go into the Early Bird Entry Prize Draw and be in with a chance to win fabulous prizes from Honda.
