Fonterra launches farmer-led youth dairy programme in Waikato and Bay of Plenty
A new farmer-led programme aimed at bringing young people into dairy farming is under way in Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
The ASB Alumni of the Year award together with the Fonterra and ASB First Farm Award give the winners a financial advantage in their farm ownership journey.
These awards extend the scope of the NZDIA programme from supporting dairy trainees right through to the people who are purchasing farms and are the succession story for the sector, says Robin Congdon, NZDIA general manager.
"The continuation of these two awards is significant to the NZDIA programme providing clear and valuable pathways for progression within the industry.
"NZDIA's mission is to support and celebrate excellence in the New Zealand dairy industry and these awards strengthen our ability to recognise excellence at all stages of people's dairy career."
Winners of the 2025 ASB Alumni of the Year Award Steve and Amy Gillies say access to 1% interest funding from ASB has launched their farming business leaps ahead.
The couple won the 2018 Waikato Share Farmers of the Year and achieved third place at the Nationals and went on to purchase a 97ha farm at Te Awamutu in 2022.
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The award is open to NZDIA Alumni who have been entrants in the past seven years and are no longer eligible to enter the Dairy Manager of the Year or Share Farmer of the Year categories, are not yet ready to purchase their first farm, or already own one.
The Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award (FFA) is a collaboration between ASB, Fonterra and the NZDIA Trust. The award aims to help the best in the industry successfully transition into farm ownership, ensuring good succession to ownership and the future of the dairy industry.
The award is open to people who have previously entered the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.
There will be three FFA winners, each receiving up to $1 million of ASB Business Term Lending fixed at 1% per annum for three years, along with a Fonterra launch package that includes $20,000 of Farm Source account credit to drive productivity and sustainability, mentoring, and additional support to help them successfully transition into ownership.
Entrants are judged by representatives from ASB and NZDIA, with the winner of up to $1 million of ASB Business term lending fixed at 1% per annum for three years also announced at the National Gala Dinner in Rotorua on May 9.
