14 | nzdairy Canty/Otago bonanza at national awards For the rst time in the Awards 33-year history Canterbury/Otago has achieved a clean sweep of all three major categories and the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award, with national nalists from that region taking home the silverware. The 2022 New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year is driven, inspirational and a great example of a farmer who is taking every opportunity the New Zealand dairy industry offers. Will Green was named the 2022 New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, the region’s Jaspal Singh became the 2022 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and Peter O’Connor, also from Canterbury/ North Otago, was announced the 2022 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year. They shared prizes from a pool worth over $200,000. Will has tasted success in the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards as the 2018 Canterbury/North Otago Dairy Manager of the Year and was also awarded that years National Runner-Up title. Share Farmer head judge, Guy Michaels from DairyNZ, says Will impressed the judges with his contagious energy, accuracy and his constant business reviewing looking for opportunities to learn. “He’s a great example of somebody who has come to New Zealand and recognises the opportunities the New Zealand dairy industry offers and has embraced the system, which is completely opposite to what he was used to back home”. Will is a 34% share milker on the 270ha Dairy Holdings Ltd Hinds property milking 1060 cows. The runners-up in the Share Farmer of the Year competition are Central Plateau farmers Todd and Renee Halliday, who are a former Auckland sales and marketing executive and a former adventure Trainee of the Year Peter-OConnor; Share Farmer of the Year Will Green; Dairy Manager of the Year Jaspal Singh, all from the Canterbury-North Otago region. DAIRY AWARDS » National winners tourism guide and boutique lodge manager. Todd (40) was born and bred in Auckland city and had never set foot on a farm until he met Renee (39), who is a dairy farmer’s daughter. The couple spent ve years in the hospitality sector managing boutique lodges together before entering the dairy industry in 2009. Taranaki couple Murray and Rachel Perks placed third in the Share Farmer category, winning the Federated Farmers Leadership merit award, the LIC Animal Wellbeing, Recording and Productivity merit award and over $19,000 in prizes. The judges described the Perks as a focused, well-rounded, genuine couple who are the real deal. The 2022 Dairy Manager of the Year is Jaspal Singh who stood out as an immigrant who is professional, detailed, diligent and possesses a desire to succeed with a dedication to growth. “From the moment we entered the farm gate to the time we left, we witnessed an immaculately presented farm and a polished and professional presentation which highlighted Jaspal’s knowledge and sense of responsibility for the farm’s management and performance,” says Dairy Manager Head Judge Gray Beagley from DairyNZ. Jaspal was an Information Technology (Computer Applications) student in India, and came to New Zealand to further his studies in 2014. Upon completion of his degree in 2015 he joined the dairy industry as a farm assistant in Mossburn and is now farm manager on Mark and Carmen Hurst’s 220ha, 800-cow property at Waimate. He won over $19,000 in prizes and also won the DeLaval Livestock Management merit award, Fonterra Dairy Management merit award and the Meridian Environmental and Sustainability merit award. Interview Judge Rosemarie Costar noted that Jaspal is committed to his family with strong values. “He and his wife Ruby’s relationship is a strength of his business.” The Dairy Manager runner-up, Robyn Mare from West Coast/Top of the South won the Ravensdown Pasture & Feed Management Award and ANZ Personal Planning and Financial Management merit awards and $11,000 in prizes. The judges described Robyn as a quiet achiever, with an outstanding broad knowledge both inside and outside the farm gate. Hayden Purvis from Bay of Plenty placed third and won almost $8,000 in prizes. He is farm manager for Peter Overdevest and Tania Akehurst on their 148ha Galatea farm, milking 400 cows. The 2022 Dairy Trainee of the Year was awarded to Peter O’Connor from Canterbury/North Otago who is described by the judges as a mature, capable person with extremely strong practical skills. The Dairy Trainee judges say the rst-time entrant is strong across all elds and does the basics very well. “Peter is an intelligent, generationalfarmer who is perceptive and articulate – farming is in his blood,” says Dairy Trainee head judge Nicky Allomes. The 23-year-old grew up on a dairy farm near Westport and was actively involved in the family farm and its development. He obtained a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (First Class Honours) from Lincoln University and worked a variety of jobs during holidays. Peter won $9,000 in prizes including a Honda XR 190 farm motorbike, along with the DairyNZ Practical Skills merit award. He is currently 2IC on Leighton and Michelle Pye’s 242ha, 900-cow May eld property and will progress to a new role managing a 400-cow farm near Lauriston next season. The judges say all the Dairy Trainee nalists possess a willingness to seek knowledge and a desire to achieve their goals. “As a group, they highlight the career opportunities in the New Zealand dairy industry,” says Mark. “The 11 nalists came from Canada, Scotland, UAE via India, there were career changers and there were the sons and daughters of New Zealand dairy farmers. SHARE FARMER OF THE YEAR • Winner – Will Green, Canterbury/North Otago • Runner-Up - Todd and Renee Halliday, Central Plateau • Third – Murray and Rachel Perks, Taranaki DAIRY MANAGER OF THE YEAR • Winner – Jaspal Singh, Canterbury/North Otago • Runner-up – Robyn Mare, West Coast/Top of the South • Third – Hayden Purvis, Bay of Plenty DAIRY TRAINEE OF THE YEAR • Winner – Peter O’Connor, Canterbury/North Otago • Runner-up – Thomas Lundman, Bay Of Plenty • Third – Zoe Bryson, Central Plateau • Where there’s a Will there’s a way P33 Congratulations to all the winners at the NZ Dairy Industry Awards from O'Dell Diesel Services Ltd; thank you for supporting us. We look forward to continuing to provide high-quality, efficient service and repairs to north Auckland & Northland. Email: admin@ods.org.nz Phone: 021 133 9245 Facebook: O'Dell Diesel Services Ltd
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