In front of a capacity audience of 580 people at Wellington’s TSB Arena on Saturday night, Colin and Isabella Beazley from Northland were named the 2019 New Zealand Share Farmers of the Year.
Canterbury’s Matt Redmond became the 2019 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and Nicola Blowey, also from Canterbury was announced the 2019 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year.
The Beazleys had entered the Awards twice previously and were third placegetters last year in the same category.
Share Farmer head judge Kevin McKinley, from DairyNZ, said the Beazleys impressed the judges with their resilience, team work and attention to detail.
“They are such a great team and complement each other with their roles on the farm,” he said.
The Beazleys, both aged 31, are 50/50 Sharemilkers for Neil Jones and Wendy Crow-Jones, milking 330 cows on the 163ha Wellsford property.
The Beazleys impressed the judges with their use of social media to “spread the good word about dairy farming”, and their strong family values and attention to detail in all areas of their business stood out.
“Everything was well thought-out and well-planned. They are super organised and hold their staff in high esteem.”
Dairy Manager title winner, Matt Redmond was described by the judges as a “real all-rounder who benchmarks himself against others in the industry across all aspects of farming”.
The 25-year-old is the farm manager on Craigmore’s Pahau Flats Dairy Ltd – Landsend 232ha, 830-cow property at Culverden.
The judges described the 2019 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year, Nicola Blowey, also from Canterbury, as a confident, mature and compelling young woman.
She is employed by Matthew and Vanessa Greenwood as an Assistant Herd Manager on Kieran and Leonie Guiney’s 600-cow, 175ha Fairlie property.
Taranaki farmers Damian and Jane Roper won the 2019 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award and received the John Wilson Memorial Trophy.
The prestigious award recognises dairy farmers who demonstrate leadership in their approach to sustainability and who are respected by their fellow farmers and their community for their attitude and role in sustainable dairying.
