Winners want their own farm
The major winners at the 2014 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards, James and Melissa Barbour, want to own their own farm in five years’ time.
The Barbours won the 2014 Waikato Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title and $17,200 in prizes at the region’s dairy industry awards dinner at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton on March 21.
The other big winners were Liam Zander, named 2014 Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, and Nathan Hubbard, who won the 2014 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year title.
James and Melissa Barbour are 50 per cent sharemilking 355 cows for Joan De Renzy at Matamata. Both are aged 28 years and it is their seventh season and third position 50 per cent sharemilking. Their goal is to progress to a larger sharemilking position and then into farm ownership within five years.
Mr Barbour holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from Massey University and Mrs Barbour is a chartered accountant, having obtained a Bachelor of Management Studies from Waikato University.
It was their first time entering the awards, doing so to gain an in-depth analysis of all aspects of their farm business so they could use that information to lift performance and become ‘‘better farmers’’.
The couple, who have two young children, say their strengths are their passion for the dairy industry and the relationships they have with the farm owner and staff.
‘‘We enjoy putting in the effort and the sense of achievement when we reach our targets. We also like to work well together as a team to ensure the property is farmed in good heart.’’
Second in the Waikato sharemilker/ equity farmer contest was Morrinsville 50 per cent sharemilker Aaron Price, who won $8000, and third went to Cambridge 50 per cent sharemilkers Louise and Paul Nelson, winning won $7000.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown, RD1 and Triplejump, along with industry partner Primary ITO.
The winner of the 2014 Waikato Farm Manager of the Year, Liam Zander, is progressing to a lower order sharemilking position in June and has his sights set on farm ownership.
Aged 25 years, Mr Zander is a farm manager for Kevin and Shona Richards at Morrinsville, milking 220 cows. He won $11,500 in prizes.
It was the second time Mr Zander had entered the awards, finding it beneficial to identify farming strengths and weaknesses.
‘‘The like-minded, enthusiastic people I have met have been a great asset to my farming career, as I feel I get good sound advice from them on all aspects of farming, business and personal.’’
He said his current position had provided a great stepping stone in his career.
‘‘I have grown in my abilities and I have been able to implement my own ideas and see the results. From managing this business I can now go on to lower order sharemilking and feel confident at taking the next step.’’
With his wife Louise, Mr Zander has goals to own a high performance herd and progress to farm ownership. He also plans to complete an Agri Business Diploma.
‘‘We are both passionate, driven people who love animals and being involved in such an ever changing industry. We are both proud Waikato dairy farmers,’’ he said.
Piopio farm managers Renee and Jesse Huffam placed second in the farm manager contest, winning $7000. Third went to Cambridge contract milker, Ed Auton, who won $3000.
Entering the dairy industry awards was the catalyst needed for Nathan Hubbard to focus on how he could lift his performance. The 26-year-old was named the 2014 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year and won $6500 in prizes.
‘‘The experience of entering the awards last year gave me the ambition to enter again, to try harder and to complete more studies to improve my knowledge so I would have a better chance this time around.’’
He is in his third season of dairy farming, assisting on a 480-cow Matamata farm owned by Cameron and Lynne Houghton.
Mr Hubbard completed his automotive apprenticeship in Christchurch before switching to dairy farming and now aims to increase equity and progress through the industry to ultimately become a farm owner.
He is married to Rebecca and they have a toddler.
Putaruru 2IC Rosie Simmonds placed second in the dairy trainee contest, winning $3700 in prizes, and third went to Te Rauamoa 2IC Benji Gillespie, who won $3600 in prizes.
Waikato Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Melissa and James Barbour, will host a field day on April 10, while Farm Manager of the Year, Liam Zander, will host a field day on the Morrinsville farm he manages on April 3.
Further details on the winners and field days can be found on dairyindustry awards.co.nz.