This isn’t the first time Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Award winners Hayden Goodall and Dayna Rowe have found competition success.

Hayden is the 2021 BOP Dairy Manager of the Year after taking out the Trainee category in 2017 and Dayna is the 2021 BOP Trainee after being named the category’s runner-up last year.

Hayden, who manages a 215ha, 270 cow farm in Matata, says the Awards helped him to communicate, develop his self-esteem and increase his farming knowledge.

“On a relational level, the Awards helped me make connections and network with other farms throughout the country and develop close connections with farmers and rural professionals in my own region,” says Hayden.

Prior to entering the dairy industry seven years ago, Hayden was in a labouring job and wanted to pursue a career to create a brighter future for his family.

“I had no prior background in farming and began as a farm assistant in 2014 and progressed to 2IC over the next four years.

“We left this farm to manage a 500-cow property, and have found our way back to where it all started to manage this awesome property.”

Runner-up to winner

Dayna grew up on her family’s farm in Pongakawa, naturally spending a lot of time learning about farming and animals. She began studying towards a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Theatre Studies when she realised she’d rather be stomping through paddocks than treading the boards.

She is currently herd manager for Grant and Ngaire Rowe on their 289.67ha Pongakawa farm, milking 1000 cows.

Dayna says she’s excited for the future generation of dairy farmers in New Zealand.

“I believe we grew up being involved in conversations where we had to think deeper regarding our environment and sustainability. I think we are extremely capable of facilitating conversations between the right parties to create a more cohesive plan for sustainable dairying.

“I plan to continue to be open minded about what we can achieve and to help to encourage people to be comfortable with these conversations and to be part of the solution.”

Into the future

They may have won two DIA titles each already, but Hayden and Dayna aren’t done yet.

Hayden’s goals include contract milking next season, and eventually, he wants to own a run-off and become a sharemilker.

Dayna wants to get to a point where her parents can completely retire from the farm, and pass it over to her.

“I’d say that’s my dad’s goal too!”