56 | nzdairy New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards » Eliott, Mary and Sam Cooper Clear vision for the family farming business Karen Phelps Sam Cooper has earned one of the dairy industry’s top regional honours after overcoming the challenges of previously stepping into farm management at a young age before he felt truly ready. The Pahiatua farm manager was named the 2026 Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Manager of the Year, achieving a near clean sweep of the category awards and impressing judges with his vision for the family farming business. He received the CowManager Livestock Management Award, Fonterra Dairy Management Award, DeLaval Pasture & Feed Management Award, Dairy Training Limited People & Leadership Award and the TH Enterprises Personal Planning & Financial Management Award. “I was really stoked to win. I enjoyed the whole process and it was a good way to look at my systems and go through everything with a fine toothed comb and see what I can do better. Twelve years ago when I got my first crack at managing I was pretty green. After coming through the ranks I’ve learned a lot.” Sam is farm manager for his parents, Eliot and Mary, on the family’s 196-hectare, 530-cow property, purchased in 2024. Since taking on the position Sam has reduced the percentage of cows requiring treatment from 24 per cent to just eight per cent. “The biggest improvement I made was observation skills around me and my team,” explains Sam. “Picking things up earlier, drafting a cow out, feeding her up and managing her before she actually needs help has made a massive difference.” He says regular blood testing and a stronger focus on mineral balance and milking hygiene have also helped improve herd health. Another key aspect has been careful management of the flood-prone property situated on a flood plain. “I know for about six days a year the farm will go under water,” says Sam. “It’s about managing for the other 359 days and having really clear systems in place so both animals and staff are looked after. We have 16 hectares of flood safe area so I manage my grazing around always having half of that ready to go.” Large-scale soil improvement work, including aeration and applying two tonnes of lime per hectare, has helped progress pasture quality and root structure. “Seeing the results of that has been really good including deeper root penetration so when we get dry the grass is less stressed now.” Pahiatua farm manager Sam Cooper was named the 2026 Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Manager of the Year. Perhaps the award that meant the most to him, however, was the Dairy Training Limited People & Leadership Award. “This was the one I really wanted,” says Sam. “I came through the school of hard knocks, so now I like to see myself as a mentor.” He has introduced a rare Monday-to-Friday roster for one young worker entering the industry, believing new entrants should be allowed to learn without immediate burnout. He has also helped staff set and work towards their own career goals. “I want people to enjoy farming and build confidence,” says Sam. “My parents installed an unreasonable amount of confidence in me and I want to pass that on.” He says entering the dairy awards has been a wonderful experience. “The networking opportunities have been awesome. I’ve met a heap of new people in the industry and its always really exciting to share my passion with others who are just as passionate.” The farm will produce 245,000kgsMS this season, far surpassing the farm best record achieved in April 213,000kgMS. “It’s a huge achievement and has been amazing to push the boat out and see what this piece of land can do. I can identify things we can improve on further and get a new record so it’s very exciting.” The future-focused manager has already mapped out ambitious plans, with a move into contract milking beginning in June and hopes of purchasing land within three years. “I don’t really know what the end goal is,”says MUDGWAY ENTERPRISES LTD CARPENTERS AND BUILDERS We specialise in new builds from houses to pole sheds, renovations and skilled carpentry. 021 515 466 mudgway.ent@gmail.com For advice you can trust, give the purebreds of agri-accounting a call on 0800 356 5511 Bennett Currie is proud to provide first class accounting and taxation services to the Cooper Family 502 Main Street, Palmerston North www.bennettcurrie.co.nz Ryan Ayers at ra@bennettcurrie.co.nz Peter Fowell at peterf@bennettcurrie.co.nz Sam. “Farm ownership feels like a stepping stone. Maybe one day I’ll own a factory producing milk for domestic consumption. The industry has clear roadmaps for things like sharemilking and farm ownership but there’s no roadmap for what comes after and that excites me.”
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