Waikato Dairy Industry award winners named

The winners of the Waikato Dairy Industry 2012 Awards are: Waikato Sharemilker/equity Farmers of the Year, Barry and Nicky Mctamney; Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, Thomas White; and Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year, Mark Jacobs.

The Mctamneys are 50 per cent sharemilking 275 cows on a 82ha farm near Otorohanga.

In June, they will become equity partners and managers of a 500-cow farm at Maihihi, which they plan to purchase outright within 10 years.

Mr White, is contract milking 390 cows for his parents, Philip and Maree White, on their 112ha Putaruru farm. Mr White said strengths of his situation included farming on a good farm, in a good community and working together as a family. Mr Jacobs is herd manager on a 400-cow farm at Cambridge. He is studying with AGITO to improve his skills.

All three winners now compete for the national titles in their categories in Auckland on May 12.