First-Farm Buyers Braden and Brigitte Barnes Secure Ownership with Award Support
Braden and Brigitte Barnes have taken the leap into farm ownership to purchase their first farm with support from the Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award.
The event celebrates excellence in 11 regions across New Zealand in the Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year and Dairy Trainee of the Year categories.
Regional winners will then compete for the national title at the gala dinner in Rotorua on Saturday, 9 May 2026.
NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon says growth in sponsorship support this year is testament to the ongoing strength and success of the awards programme.
"It's exciting to see the renewed vibrancy in sponsorship and the interest from a number of organisations to be part of the awards programme.
"We had record support at our National Gala Dinner last year which has launched us into a positive position.
"We are launching into our 37th year with vigour to drive and showcase best practice across the dairy section.
Read More:
- LIC extends New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards sponsorship
- No regrets choosing cows over boardroom
- Winners showcase dairy innovation and sustainability - DairyNZ
"The awards are an essential vehicle to shine a light on the positive sustainability stories in the dairy sector, as well as showcasing pathway opportunities for future generations into farm succession. The support from our sponsors and partners is critical to our ability to continue to achieve our goals."
The prize package continues to heat up across all categories with LIC adding an impressive GeneMark Genomics prize this year for the national winner of the LIC Animal Wellbeing Recording and Productivity Award.
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is joining the fold as the newest all-region sponsor for the Awards. MPI will present the 'Dairy Manager of the Year MPI Sustainable Farming - Environment Award' at each of the 11 regional award ceremonies.
The Fonterra and ASB First Farm Award will be presented to three winners, who will receive up to $1 million of ASB Business Term Lending fixed at 1% for three years, based on the bank's lending criteria with terms and fees applying.
The First Farm Award provides financial and strategic support to help the best in the industry successfully launch into farm ownership.
The award is open to farmers who have previously entered the Share Farmer of the Year category and are planning to buy their first farm within two years.
The Alumni of the Year Award is also up for grabs again, which is a collaboration between ASB and NZDIA to reward NZDIA alumni who have made significant contributions to the programme and the industry. The winner will also receive up to $1 million of ASB Business Term Lending fixed at 1% for three years.
Entrants must be former NZDIA award participants who may have progressed to farm ownership or have more than 50% equity in a farm business.
These awards are another great reason to encourage young dairy farmers to enter the Awards in the Dairy Trainee, Dairy Manager and Share Farmer categories as the opportunities and the value as an alumni member continues to give back in the future.
Entries for these two awards open January 9, 2026.
Together with the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award, the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards is recognising leading farmers in the dairy sector, playing a key role to showcase excellence, identify role models and best practice, lifting the overall standard in the dairy sector.
Entries for the Dairy Industry Awards close December 6. Honda is giving away some great early bird prizes for people who enter before 27 October.
To find out more information about different award categories and prizes and to enter visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors ASB, CowManager, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Honda, LIC, and Trelleborg, along with industry partners Fonterra and DairyNZ.
