Reporoa couple take top farming award

Reporoa couple Ross and Karla Shaw have been named Share Farmers of the Year at the Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards.

It was the third time the Shaws' had entered the awards which were held at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua last night.

Atiamuri farmer Olivia Wade took out the Dairy Trainee of the Year award.

Ross and Karla Shaw are 20% equity managers in partnership with Mr Shaw's parents on a 500-cow Reporoa property.

"Entering the awards has given us an in-depth analysis of all our farm systems, great feedback from the judges and networking opportunities within the industry," they said.

The couple has been in the position since 2010 and aim to increase their share in the farm to 40% in the short term and ultimately take full ownership in the property, called Sangro Farm.

The Shaws, who were runners-up in the competition last year, won $18,700 in prizes and said they aimed to operate a profitable and safe dairy farm business and that their farming system gave them the ability to adapt to the changing farming environment.

Atiamuri farmer Olivia Wade took out the Dairy Trainee of the Year award.

The 23-year-old assistant manager won $7850 in prizes and is employed on her parents farm. She has been dairy farming for three years and is focused on gaining more knowledge and experience to assist in her career plans to progress to contract milking and lower order sharemilking.

"I am working towards gaining my New Zealand Diploma in Agribusiness through Primary ITO, having gained my Human Resources paper and am also working towards my Business Management paper," she said.

Outside of farming Ms Wade has a team of six horses and is the head instructor of the Upper Atiamuri Pony Club and coach of the Timberlands North Island Show Jumping Team.

The Dairy Trainee runner-up was Reporoa 19 year-old Claudia Odlin who won $3000 in prizes.

Leighton Swan, 32, won the 2016 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year award for his work on a 940-cow Mangakino farm owned by the Wairarapa Moana Incorporation.

Second place in the Dairy Manager competition went to 31-year-old Reporoa farm manager Anthony Kiff, who won $5700 in prizes. Reporoa production manager Josh Strugnell, 28, placed third winning $5100 in prizes.

The runners-up in the Share Farmer competition were Tokoroa contract milkers Matt and Kelly Fowlie, who won $10,700 in prizes.

Rotorua 50% sharemilkers, Carlos and Bernice Delos Santos, placed third and won $6050 in prizes.

Share Farmer Merit Awards:

· DairyNZ Human Resources Award - Matt & Kelly Fowlie

· Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award - Carlos & Bernice Delos Santos

· Federated Farmers Leadership Award - Dan & Michelle Brice

· Honda Farm Safety and Health Award - Matt & Kelly Fowlie

. LIC Recording and Productivity Award - Dan & Michelle Brice

·Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award - Mark & Adelle Pacey

·Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award - Ross & Karla Shaw

·Westpac Business Performance Award - Ross & Karla Shaw

Dairy Manager Merit Awards:

·BlackmanSpargo Rural Law Ltd Most Promising Entrant Award - Rebecca Dean

·Stretton & Co Limited Employee Engagement Award - Josh Strugnell

·I.S. Dam Lining Limited Leadership Award - Anthony Kiff

·Fonterra Farm Source Feed Management Award - Leighton Swan

·DeLaval Livestock Management Award - Leighton Swan

·Primary ITO Power Play Award - Anthony Kiff

. Fonterra Farm Source Farm Management Award - Josh Strugnell

·Westpac Financial Management & Planning Award - Leighton Swan

Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:

·T H Enterprises Ltd Most Promising Entrant Award - Maurice Bryant

·Bay of Plenty Regional Council Farming Knowledge Award - Daniel White

·Rotorua Lakes Council Community & Industry Involvement Award - Olivia Wade

·DairyNZ Practical Skills Award - Olivia Wade