Independent assessment equalled a title win

The 2018 winners are Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year, Aaron Courage; Waikato Share Farmers of the Year, Steve Gillies and Amy Johnson; and Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year, Chelsea Smith.

The major winners in the 2018 Waikato Dairy Industry Awards are first-time entrants who saw the Awards as an opportunity to obtain an independent assessment of their business and to identify areas to improve.

Steve Gillies and Amy Johnson were announced winners of the region’s Share Farmer of the Year competition at the Waikato Dairy Industry Awards annual awards dinner held at the Don Rowlands Centre at Karapiro last month. The other big winners were Chelsea Smith, who became the 2018 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year; and Aaron Courage, who is 2018 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Steve and Amy, both aged 31, are contract milking 470 cows for Peter and Marian van der Heyden at Putaruru and won $13,750 in prizes.

Their goals are to continue to progress through the industry by obtaining sharemilking positions, and they believe the strengths of their operation lie in the people.

“Steve and I have complimentary skills and supportive farm owners, plus great staff that make the farm an enjoyable work environment,” says Amy. “And Steve knows how to make milk!”

Steve has been in the industry eight years, and was working as a mechanic before moving to New Zealand from Scotland in 2010 and making the career change. “I’m proud that I’ve progressed through the industry from farm assistant to contract milker on one farm,” says Steve.

Amy grew up on a farm and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in agriculture. She worked as a DairyNZ consulting officer and is now an agrimanager with ANZ, as well as working with Steve on the farm.

The couple aim to mitigate small challenges before they become big issues and love working with happy, healthy animals. “I didn’t choose farming as a career,” says Steve. “Farming chose me.”

Travelling wine-maker wins

The winner of the 2018 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year competition was previously a ‘Travelling Winemaker’ who would spend half the year working the grape harvest, then the rest of the year travelling or returning back to New Zealand to the family farm, before she decide to enter the dairy industry full-time in 2015.

Chelsea Smith, who won $8975 in prizes, is farm manager for Steven and Amy Van Der Poel’s 250ha farm, milking 1180 cows in Otorohanga.

“I love the variation in dairy farming. I love the support, the growth potential and that everyone wants to help and share their information,” says Chelsea.

“I treat the cows like they are my own – they are the most important part of the business and need to be looked after and cared for. They all have their own personalities!”

Chelsea believes one of the strengths of the business lies in the strong communication that exists between the team. “I always converse with the farm owner and staff to ensure everyone is up-to-date with the day-to-day or week-to-week happenings on the farm,” says Chelsea.

It was the first time Chelsea, aged 28, had entered the awards, doing so to give herself a challenge, learn more about the farm and business she works on and networking.

Passionate young gun wins

The 2018 Waikato Dairy Trainee of the Year, Aaron Courage, is a young farmer who is passionate about the dairy industry and would like to progress into a leadership position within the industry in the coming years.

“I would like to breed quality animals that have a positive impact on the industry,” says Aaron. “Currently I’m focused on breeding a bull into the team of premier sires, which I am working towards through quality stock investment and working with other successful breeders.” He’s also training to be an AB technician.

The 19-year-old grew up on a dairy farm on the west coast of the South Island and has been working full-time in the industry since age 16. “I’ve aspired to be a dairy farmer for as long as I can remember. I thoroughly enjoy milking above all tasks, and my two favourite times of the year are calving and mating.”  

Aaron is farm assistant for Stewart and Kathryn Anderson on their 146ha, 430-cow property at Otorohanga and won $6180 in prizes.

He says entering the awards is an opportunity to express his love for dairy farming. “I’m extremely passionate about challenging myself to continue improve my skills and potential input into the industry.”

The Waikato Dairy Industry Awards winners field day will be held on April 18 at 455 Whites Rd, Putaruru where Waikato Share Farmers of the Year, Steve Gillies and Amy Johnson, contract milk. Also presenting at the field day will be the region’s Dairy Manager of the Year, Chelsea Smith; and Dairy Trainee of the Year, Aaron Courage. Further details on the winners and the field day can be found at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz


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