Tapawera couple take top share farmer award

The major winners in the 2025 West Coast/Top of the South Dairy Industry Awards cite endless curiosity and analytical thinking as their business’ greatest strengths.

Warric and Rachel Johnson were announced winners of the region’s Share Farmer of the Year Category at the annual awards dinner held at the Murchison Events Centre recently. The other big winners were Richard Exter, who was named the 2025 West Coast/Top of the South Dairy Manager of the Year, and Ros McCann, the 2025 West Coast/Top of the South Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Warric and Rachel were runners-up in the same category last year and say the awards programme enabled them to learn more about their business and fine tune it. They began their farming journey 25 years ago and say they still enjoy what they do, even in the tougher times.

“That’s when you build character and learn the most.” Warric cites a low payout when they were just getting ahead of LOSM as a challenge they overcame.

“We had to sell all our cows and pretty much start again,” he says. “I’m very much a numbers man and am constantly diving into the financial side of the business.
“I have an endless curiosity for analysing which I’m passionate about and like to find out meanings and answers for any problem presented.”

Warric and Rachel are contract milkers for Phil and Jocelyn Riley on their 375ha, 1100-cow Tapawera property. They won $7,600 and five merit awards.

They’re proud they have achieved Lead with Pride certification while running two large-scale dairy farms, with future farming goals including farm ownership.

The runners-up in the Share Farmer category were Kaisa Sadowska and Sam Riley who are 50/50 sharemilkers on Brent Riley’s 200ha, 500-cow Collingwood property. They won $4,300 in prizes.

The couple cite their ability to pivot quickly if required as a strength and they say their wide network has been invaluable to bounce ideas off or make things happen.
Although the weather can be testing at times, the couple identify many positives about their career, including physical work and the freedom to be their own bosses.

Future farming goals include growing their business to continue the family farming legacy and investigating off-farm opportunities.