Are the dairy awards for you?

Keen to benchmark against others in the dairy industry and be rewarded for your hard work?

Then now’s the time to test yourself at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) which recognise a range of achievements and innovations in the dairy industry.

By entering, you’ll accelerate your learning and development opportunities, you’ll challenge yourself, and raise the bar. There will be opportunities to stand out and showcase your skills while being rewarded for your hard work.

The awards include New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year, and Fonterra Responsible Dairying of the Year categories.

NZDIA General Manager Robin Congdon says the awards are not only a prestigious programme with hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes, but they are also a learning platform where people can secure their future, learn, connect, and grow, both personally and professionally.

“In addition to these benefits, entrants also have an opportunity to experience National Final week and Gala dinner in Queenstown,” Robin says.

“The awards promote best practices in the dairy industry and give entrants the chance to challenge themselves, connect with others, earn a regional or national title, and share in substantial regional and national prize pools.”

Rainy River dairy farmers and previous Share Farmer of the Year winners, Kyla and Kevin Freeman, say: “We entered the awards programme to look at every aspect of our business, with others to critique it.

“It was a chance to analyse, learn and improve areas of weakness and identify areas of opportunities to grow.”

Tasman’s NZDIA Trainee Team Leader Del Bruce, who was born and bred on a dairy farm in Maruia and works as a Large Animal Vet Technician, says she’s been a part of the awards previously as an entrant in both the Trainee and Managers section and as a team leader.

“I love how the awards grew my confidence, both in my career and for me as a person. Winning Trainee of the Year was an experience I’ll never forget, and I love the positivity it brings to our industry,” she says.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards attract farmers from across the country, working at all levels of the dairy sector.

For more on categories or entries go here. Entries close at midnight on 5 December.