Jobanpreet Kaur and Navdeep Singh are the 2026 Central Plateau Share Farmers of the Year.
The winners of the 2026 Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards were announced at the annual awards dinner held at Te Puia in Rotorua on Thursday evening.
The 2026 Central Plateau Share Farmers of the Year are Navdeep Singh and Jobanpreet Kaur, with the title of Dairy Manager of the Year going to Abhishek Sharma and Claire Swindells winning the 2026 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee.
Navdeep Singh and Jobanpreet Kaur sharemilk 25% and contract milk 75% for Mark and Donna Keaney, milking 1230 cows on 391ha.
After a runner-up finish last year, the couple, both 31, were eager to have another crack and continue benchmarking themselves against the best in the industry.
“We see ourselves building a top 20% genetic herd, and our goal is to be farm owners who lead by example, who run a sustainable farm and contribute to the industry and the community.
“We are not working for today – we are building the future.
“During hard times, discipline and purpose drive us.”
The couple is proud to lift farm productivity while building a strong, reliable team culture.
Singh and Kaur won a $14,900 prize package and pocketed five merit awards on the evening.
Abhishek Sharma, the Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year, won $8965 in prizes, including three merit awards.
Sharma, 28, is a farm manager for Pāmu Landcorp Farming Ltd at the Halls Dairy Unity at Wairākei, milking 620 cows on 267ha.
He has been in New Zealand since 2017 and worked his way up through various management roles on dairy farms, while completing the Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture through Primary ITO.
In his current role, he manages three to four staff members.
“I chose farming because I was drawn to the responsibility and independence for growth that the dairy industry offers,” Sharma said.
“I enjoy leading a team, setting standards, and creating a strong farm culture where everyone is working toward the same goals.”
Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year, Claire Swindells, is a 21-year-old farm assistant for Reece and Alex Pearce on Robin Broderson’s 151ha farm at Reporoa, milking 350 cows.
After starting at Victoria University studying economics, Swindells soon realised sitting at a desk wasn’t her thing.
“I moved to Taupō to be closer to my parents and got a job relief milking at Pāmu, and I fell in love with farming,” she said.
“My favourite things are tractor driving and managing stock health.
“I see myself fitting in the industry as a practical, performance-focused farmer who contributes to efficient farm systems.”
Claire won $6490 in prizes along with one merit award.
Further details on the Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards winners and upcoming Field Day can be found here.
Central Plateau Share Farmer of the Year
Winner: Navdeep Singh and Jobanpreet Kaur
Runner-up: Vick Singh
Third: Benjamin and Sherie Hayes
Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year
Winner: Abhishek Sharma
Runner-up: Javahn Christie
Third: Shaun Braithwaite
Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year
Winner: Claire Swindells
Runner-up: Mitchell Julian
Third: Terry Gielen
Share Farmer Merit Awards
Dairy Manager Merit Awards
Dairy Trainee Merit Awards
– Supplied by Dairy Industry Awards