46 | nzdairy Kim Newth Adrian Waugh’s 12-year dairy journey with Hopkins Farming Group has culminated in outstanding recognition of his capabilities with the 29-year-old named as the 2026 Manawatu Dairy Manager of the Year at the regional Dairy Industry Awards in February. He also won five merit awards on the night. Having come third in the same category last year, Adrian says he was better prepared this time round and knew what the judges were looking for. “My awareness of what the judges wanted to see was a lot higher this year and I gave it my all, including taking the judges on a tour of the farm,” says Adrian. “I realised that to win, I also had to try and collect at least one or two merit awards. I was so stoked to at how well it all went this time – it was such an awesome experience.” Adrian also competed with success at the national Dairy Industry Awards in May, winning the LIC Interview Award in the Dairy Manager of the Year category. Young manager recognised for farming excellence New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards » Grand Bend Farm Adrian Waugh with fiancée Alice Gerke. “There were some awesome people in that category – my fiancée [Alice Gerke] and I have built some strong relationships from that. We’ve learned a lot, which will help us get where we want to go over the coming year.” Adrian’s regional dairy manager title win has coincided with a planned wind-down of Hopkins Farming Group, with all the group’s farms and assets due to be sold by the end of the 2025/26 season. It means that Adrian is now moving on, leaving behind Grandbend farm that he has managed so successfully for the group. “It’s a very big change for myself and my fiancée Alice Gerke, as we’re now going to be managing a standalone farm near Feilding for a year that’s owned by a family rather than a corporate entity and we also plan to purchase our first house in the next 12 months. In the second year, we’ll be going into a lower order sharemilking agreement.” While Adrian has relished all the professional development he’s had with Hopkins Farming Group, he’s looking forward to the move, and taking the next step on the progression pathway. One of the regional merit awards that Adrian won - Cow Race Design & Build Specialists - Effluent Pond Design & Construction - Ruahine Race Rock Supply & Placing - Tracks, Dams & Fence line, Drainage, Onsite Metal Screening, Crushing & Placing PHONE: Tony - 027 260 7000 E: tony@mcintyreconstruction.co.nz For further inspiration Today’s beauty tomorrow’s legacy www.easybigtrees.co.nz this year was in personal planning and financial management. He’s put in a lot of work to understand his numbers and produce the spreadsheets needed to give a clearer picture of what’s possible. It has made planning for the next move easier, with both he and Alice looking forward to entering lower order sharemilking in 2027/28. Alice has a sheep and beef farm background and her large animal vet technician training has been influential for Adrian, in terms of helping to sharpen his knowledge of animal health and breeding. It adds to his existing strengths around managing pasture, feed and staff. Adrian has long had a three-fold focus on farming for people, profit and planet, and plans to take a similar approach moving forward. His assistant manager, who has been with him at Grandbend for two years, will also be joining him at the new farm.
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