Entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards has helped regional managers Donald and Kirsten Watson call the Central Plateau home.
"One of the biggest things we got out of entering the awards was a feeling or sense of belonging to the Central Plateau region," Kirsten Watson says.
The couple won the 2014 Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year title in their second time entering and just fifth season in the industry.
Managing the 2016 competition for the region, the Watsons were new to dairy farming and new to the region when they first entered the awards. "So we knew no one, but now we know heaps of people, have a wide network and don't ever feel uncomfortable when we turn up to any regional event as we always know someone!"
The couple were both qualified veterinarians and worked as such in New Zealand and overseas before returning and deciding to go farming. "Dairy farming gave us the opportunity to run our own business together and to grow our business skills at the same time."