Farmer awards an opportunity
Mangamuka farmer Trish Rankin is encouraging dairy farmers to enter the 2017 Northland Dairy Industry Awards.
Farm managers, trainees and share farmers can enter the competition in separate categories.
Trish and her husband Glen won the 2016 Share Farmer of the Year Award at the awards evening at Forum North Whangarei in March.
The Rankins farm 280 cows on 260 hectares.
Having moved to the Hokianga in 2015 from the Hawke’s Bay, the couple were pleased to win the award after finishing third twice in the Hawke’s Bay’s equivalent competition.
‘‘It’s a different kind of farming up here with kikuyu grass and wet everything.
‘‘Judges come out to the farm and assess you on health and safety, animal health recording and production, pasture recording, environment, farm business and dairy shed hygiene and production.’’
Awards are presented for each section with the highest points winning overall.
Rankin says there are two ‘‘schools of thought’’ when entering the competition.
‘‘There are people who just want to win and there are those that enter to get feedback to get ahead.’’
Three judges visit the farm for two hours to assess and provide feedback.
Judges include Dairy New Zealand farming consultants, bankers and experienced farmers.
‘‘The awards are a journey. You would pay a fortune to get that kind of feedback, for us the judging process was like a warrant of fitness.
‘‘The awards have catapulted us from farmers to farm business owners.
‘‘You will get out what you put in.’’
As one of the 2016 winners, the couple were hosted by sponsors for four days in Wellington, alongside winners from a total of 11 regions.
‘‘We had an amazing time, Sir John Kirwan was an MC. You couldn’t replicate that experience, it’s so unique to dairying.
‘‘We are part of an alumni and network now. It’s a great opportunity.’’
It is free to enter, with entries now open and due to close on November 30.
For more information: www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz