Dairy awards entries open

This includes the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year competitions.

Entries can be made online at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz and will close on December 20.

National convenor Chris Keeping says the awards deliver considerable benefits.

"People already know the awards will give them a head start in the employment market and provide feedback on their business performance, as well as identify strengths and areas to develop while also providing some financial and business acumen with rural institutions," she says.

"The awards also offer generous rewards and prizes. What might not be so obvious, is the opportunity the awards offers entrants to develop a wider network with other motivated dairy farmers, and potential future business partners, and rural professionals."

The 2012 awards attracted a record number of entries, with 525 received. Keeping hopes a similar number will enter the 2013 awards.

She expects some to make excuses not to enter.

"We just say people can't afford not to make the time to gain from the personal growth and business development. The dairy industry awards are not about being perfect, they are about making progress."

Keeping says a generous early entry incentive is on offer. Three Honda XR125 Duster farm bikes valued at about $4000 each will be given to those that enter online before December 1, with one farm bike to be won in each contest.

The Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner AgITO.

Entrants first enter one of 12 regional competitions being held around the country, with the winners all progressing to a national final. In 2013 the national final will be held in Wellington.

Visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz for more information on the competitions or to enter.