14 | Recognition as team leader on committee Alan da Veiga. Russell Fredric Since 1989, the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards have been a benchmark of the New Zealand Dairy Industry, celebrating innovation, achievement and the best of dairying in New Zealand. Annually, the awards runs a programme of more than 60 events directly involving more than 6000 people ranging from dairy farmers to rural professionals, rural businesses, and the wider rural communities. The event covers 11 different awards regions around New Zealand, culminating in a national awards final which this year was held in Mt Maunganui on May 10. The winner of the 2024 Canterbury / North Otago Dairy Industry Awards Share Farmer of the Year, Alan da Veiga, was the team leader and one of a committee of 10 people organising the event for this region. Having been through the preparation and judging process, which includes a farm visit and a presentation to the judges, Alan strongly identifies with how daunting it can be, but is also reaping the benefits of both this and the recognition he has gained. “I have a passion to see a new generation, because I was there as well; scared when the judging day was coming up. You have a time to present a lot of information and to prove it in a set time.” Contestants begin the entry process by getting set up on the Dairy Industry awards website portal which outlines important information about each award category, including the full judging criteria and some tips on how to prepare. Alan guides the contestants through this and the rest of the process. Areas they must cover during their on-farm presentation to the judges, which takes about two hours and includes budgeting and financial, pasture and stock management, animal welfare and health and safety. “You have to prove in some way how you do these with photos and record keeping.” Once judging is completed the top five entrants from each region qualify to enter the national final which is subject to another intensive round of judging which includes a farm tour by the contestants.” “You get to know your business inside-out even if you don’t win because you work a lot on your business in a way you don’t normally do.” In addition to putting all aspects of a business DAIRY PEOPLE » Alan da Veiga and its operation under a magnifying glass, expanding specific areas of knowledge and networking with others such as advisors, bankers and accountants are other crucial and beneficial aspects of working through the process. Proudly supporting Alan da Veiga FERTILISER SPREADING | FARM MAPPING GPS TRACKING | VARIABLE RATE SPREADING LIVESTOCK CARTAGE | DAILY FREIGHT CONCRETE SUPPLIES | GRAIN CARTAGE SHINGLE SUPPLIES | FERTILISER SUPPLIES Leeston: 03 3248 070 | Dunsandel: 03 3254 039 reception@ellesmere.co.nz Alan says his confidence is much greater since entering and winning his award. “I’m very confident and capable of what I do and backing that up. I’m networking very strongly with my banker and with [industry] people that I talk to because obviously I learned quite a lot during the process so I understand my business pretty well now.” Equally importantly, Alan says he has more confidence to ask questions when he does not understand something. Since 2020 he has had a contract milking position on a Dairy Holdings 260 hectare, 1000 cow farm at Leeston, Canterbury, however in June he moved to a 392 hectare farm on the West Coast that he bought with an equity partner.
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