Brad Roberts holds a Diploma in Farm Management from Lincoln University and Lesley Roberts has a Bachelor of Physical Education from Otago University.
They attributed much of their success to their "committed and extremely capable" staff . Anticipated farm production this season is 400,000kgMS.
The Roberts appeared clear leaders in the Sharemilker/Equity Farmers section of the contest after receiving six merit awards - the DairyNZ Human Resources, Honda Farm Safety and Health, LIC Recording and Productivity, Meridian Energy Farm Environment, Triplejump Risk Management and Westpac Business Performance awards.
Runners-up in the Northland Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year contest were Okaihau equity sharemilkers Grant and Danielle Petterd, who collected $4500 in prizes.
They received the Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award and the remaining two merit awards in the Sharemilker/Equity Farmer section - the Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene and Ravensdown Pasture Performance awards - went to Dan Noakes and Jodi Antunovich, who sharemilk at Titoki. The 2015 Northland Farm Manager of the Year, Karla Frost, 24, placed third in last year's competition. She has a Bachelor of Agri-Science from Massey University and plans to progress up the industry ladder.
The Northland Agricultural Research Farm at Dargaville where she milks 250 cows involves large amounts of recording which must be done accurately and in line with best practice.
"High standards are expected in every aspect of the farming system," she said. "I feel that there is no better way to learn, and as the position is sole-charge it is my personal responsibility to ensure this is achieved."
Ms Frost received three of the seven Farm Manager merit awards - the Bell Booth Best Livestock, Fonterra Best Practice and New Zealand Farm Source Farm Management awards.
Joe Foster, who manages 1190 cows on a 367ha farm at Okaihau, was placed second in the Farm Manager contest, winning $3000, and Loretta Smyth, who manages 275 cows on the Northland College dairy farm at Kaikohe, was third winning $2000.
Mr Foster won the Northland Regional Council Environment and Primary ITO Human Resource Management merit awards and Ms Smyth received the Webb Ross McNabb Kilpatrick Leadership merit award.
The remaining merit award in the Farm Manager section, the Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award, went to Luke Boylan, of Purua.
The 2015 Northland Dairy Trainee of the Year, Mike Jensen, 31, worked as a bricklayer, construction worker and in oyster farming before starting dairy farming in 2011.
He now milks 500 cows for Peter Thorpe at Waipapa and aims to be contract milking within five years.
Runner-up in the Northland trainee contest was Kim Simpson, of Maromaku, who won $1300. Kamo farm assistant Elliot Nelson, was third and won $900.
Kim Simpson collected the DairyNZ Practical Skills merit award. Other Dairy Trainee merit award recipients were: Johnston O'Shea Encouragement Award, Rangi Rix; Northland Farm Services Farming Knowledge Award, Lui Peti; Northland Metal Industries Leadership Award, Teneale Horsford.
Farm Manager of the Year Karla Frost, will host a field day on the NARF farm at Dargaville on March 31 and Northland Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year Brad and Lesley Roberts will host a field day on April 9.
More details on the field days can be found on: www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
