14 | nzdairy DAIRY AWARDS » Jack Symes Focus on equity growth for NZ’s top Jack Symes is the NZDIA Dairy Manager of the Year. A first-time entrant in the Dairy Industry Awards, Jack Symes, has proved to be a high flier after taking out the 2023 Dairy Manager of the Year national title for Canterbury/North Otago. The 25-year-old also won four other awards in livestock management, dairy management, sustainable pasture, and personal planning and financial management. The judges were impressed by Jack’s humble and personable manner and evident all-round commitment to achieving a high standard. That approach saw him leave nothing to chance in his preparations for the awards.“When I entered, I had the mindset of wanting to do the best I could. I broke down each stage of the competition and worked really hard on the judge’s feedback and added that to my presentation.” Jack plans to use what he has learned through the competition to fine-tune areas of his business. Particularly useful for him was the financial advice he received on various opportunities to help him achieve his future goals. One of Jack’s motivations for entering was to show his passion for farming and highlight the benefits of choosing a dairy career. He sees plenty of opportunities for the younger generation to make the changes needed to sustain and grow the country’s dairy farm sector into the future. Jack says his parents – Judy and Brian Symes – followed the sharemilking pathway to farm ownership and it’s a journey he now hopes to emulate. His passion for the dairy industry started at their side, at a young age. “I was putting my first cups on at age seven and every holiday, or after school, I’d be out there with mum and dad helping them out. They showed me that what you put in, you get back.” After leaving school, Jack completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) degree at Lincoln University before working on a mixed cropping farm in Ashburton for two years. He then returned home to the family farm – a 160ha, 630-cow farm in Southbridge – with big progression goals now up ahead. “I’m planning to do another year managing this farm. Come spring, I’m looking at contract milking or a lower order sharemilking job off farm, [with most of his $24,000 in prizes earmarked to help with that next step]. My goal is to do that for two years to build up equity to go to a sharemilking job. Going forward, I want to continue to build equity as I have a long term goal of farm ownership at 35.” The awards’ judges noted Jack’s proactive management skills and obvious care with presenting a tidy farm with clean pastures. “A highly presentable farm is also producing high quality milk. That’s something I wanted to showcase – I take pride in my work.” Jacks likes to run a simple farm system where everyone on the team knows what’s required, with production currently moving from System 2 to 3.In these high interest, inflationary times, it helps that Jack is ‘a numbers man’ who does a lot of work on farm budgets throughout the year. Comparing actual figures to budget numbers at the end of each month ensures he understands his cashflow and stays on track. Karen Phelps 393 Frasers Rd, Dunsandel 7682 Transport Enquiries Contact Eddie 0274 328 429 • Brad 027 250 1166 i Contracting Enquiries Contact Eddie 0274 328 429 • Stephen 027 325 8344 i 03 325 4170 www.edswain.co.nz CONTRACTORS CARTAGE | BALING Proudly supporting Jack and Brian Symes 027 785 8351 coreyduckmanton@hotmail.com The preferred milking systems partner for Dairy Farmers Ph 0800 577 583 | www.morrisonagri.co.nz Proud to support Jack and Brian Symes
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