020315bf6 The 2015 Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Johan and Theona Blom 2 March 2015 Rotorua Daily Post Photograph by Ben Fraser
The Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre had a record 421 attendees.
Central Plateau Industry Awards regional manager Shelley Butterworth was rapt with the turn-out, she said.
There was a South African treble, with all three major winners having South African roots.
The 2015 Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Johan and Theona Blom, 2015 Central Plateau Farm Managers of the Year, Nathan and Elri Levin, and 2015 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year, Gerard van der Mark, were all born in South Africa.
"It's a really exciting result and one I'm sure that will travel far as the news spreads to friends and family in their homeland," Central Plateau Dairy Industry Awards regional manager John Butterworth said.
"Tonight's results also prove that there are fantastic opportunities available in the New Zealand dairy industry for people with the right attitude to enter and progress quickly."
The three winners were announced at the region's awards dinner at the Energy Events Centre in Rotorua last night.
Johan and Theona Blom immigrated to New Zealand in 2008 and have quickly progressed up the industry. Mr Blom, 47, began as an assistant herd manager and the couple is now 50 per cent sharemilking 270 cows for Ron and Jan Hall at Ngakuru.
They arrived well qualified for the industry, as Mr Blom had been working as a drystock agricultural extension officer having obtained a Bachelor of Science majoring in Agriculture. Mrs Blom, 43, was an accountant.
"We entered the Waikato Farm Manager of the Year competition in 2011 and Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year in 2013, and think the benefits of entering the awards are in fine-tuning our business and not getting complacent.
"Our team work and attention to detail in capturing data through measuring and monitoring are our strengths. Having good information definitely helps to make proactive decisions and we work very well when we put our individual strengths together."
The Bloms', who won $15,300 in prizes, goal is to invest in a drystock or heifer grazing block.
Runner-up in the region's sharemilker/equity farmer contest was Reporoa 20 per cent equity farm managers, Ross and Karla Shaw, winning $5500 in prizes.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy, New Zealand Farm Source, Ravensdown, and Triplejump, along with industry partner Primary ITO.
A change of career has proved a winning move for 2015 Central Plateau Farm Managers of the Year, Nathan and Elri Levin. They won $7400 in prizes.
The couple left the adventure sport and wine industries in South Africa eight years ago to become dairy farm assistants in New Zealand and have progressed to their current position, contract milking 650 cows at Tokoroa for Ian and Margaret Elliot and John and Erica Trebilco.
Aged 46 and 43, the couple entered the awards for the first time last year, placing second, and said the experience was valuable.
"We got advice from leaders within the industry and were able to surround ourselves with positive people."
The couple hold a Bachelors Degree in Economics and a Diploma in Office Administration, and say their strengths are in their commitment, drive and organisation. They plan to go 50 per cent sharemilking 400 cows in 2016.
Reporoa contract milkers Reece Williams and Jessica Berry placed second in the farm manager contest, winning $5000 in prizes. Third went to Reporoa contract milkers Matt and Chloe Walker, who won $1800.
The 2015 Central Plateau Dairy Trainee of the Year, Gerard van der Mark, was in a hurry to start his dairy farming career, packing his bags and moving to his first position after finishing his last school exam.
His haste has been rewarded with the title and $6000 in prizes, and follows his third-placing in his first time entering the contest last year.
"I found lots of benefits from entering last year's competition. The awards night was a fun event to attend and the whole experience just built my confidence in public speaking and general dairy farming knowledge."
The 22-year-old is 2IC on a 900-cow Mangakino farm owned by the Sargent Family Trust. He and wife Marcelle have two young children and are progressing to a 600-cow contract milking position in June.
The couple, born in South Africa, has registered their company Maziwa Pride (which means dairy in Swahili), and plan to further their dairy education and business management.
"When we have figured out the business side of things, we would like to save up as much money as possible and grow as quick as possible to reach our long term farming goal of buying our first dairy farm at the age of 35."
Rotorua farm assistant Colin Tremain, aged 26, was second winning $2100 in prizes. Atiamuri 2IC Olivia Wade, aged 22, was third, winning $1070 in prizes.
Central Plateau Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year, Johan and Theona Blom, will host a field day on March 26, while Farm Managers of the Year, Nathan and Elri Levin, will host a field day on the Tokoroa farm they manage on March 19.
Further details on the winners and field days can be found on www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.
Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:
DairyNZ Human Resources Award - Ross & Karla Shaw
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award - Jeremy & Jade Wade
Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award - Ross & Karla Shaw
Honda Farm Safety and Health Award - Ross & Karla Shaw
LIC Recording and Productivity Award - Johan & Theona Blom
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award - Chris Robinson
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award - Johan & Theona Blom
Triplejump Risk Management Award - Peter Guyton
Westpac Business Performance Award - Ross & Karla Shaw
Farm Manager Merit Awards:
Blackman Spargo Strategic Planning Award - Nathan & Elri Levin
B.O.P. Regional Council Environment Award - Nathan & Elri Levin
The Vet Club Leadership Award - Laurence Walden
Fonterra Best Practice Award - Reece Williams & Jessica Berry
New Zealand Farm Source Farm Management Award - Nathan & Elri Levin
Primary ITO Human Resource Management Award - Reece Williams & Jessica Berry
Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award - Matt & Chloe Walker
Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:
Camco Dairy Services/Waikato Milking Systems Most Promising Entrant - Claudia Odlin
T.H. Enterprises Ltd Farming Knowledge Award - Gerard van der Mark
Rotorua Lakes Council Leadership Award - Olivia Wade
DairyNZ Practical Skills Award - Colin Tremain
Sharemilker/Equity Farmer Merit Awards:
DairyNZ Human Resources Award - Ross and Karla Shaw.
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award - Jeremy and Jade Wade.
Federated Farmers of New Zealand Leadership Award - Ross and Karla Shaw.
Honda Farm Safety and Health Award - Ross and Karla Shaw.
LIC Recording and Productivity award - Johan and Theona Blom.
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award - Chris Robinson.
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award - Johan and Theona Blom.
Triplejump Risk Management Award - Peter Guyton.
Westpac Business Performance Award - Ross and Karla Shaw.
Farm Manger Merit Awards:
Blackman Spargo Strategic Planning Award - Nathan and Elri Levin.
B.O.P Regional COuncil Environment Award - Nathan and Elri Levin.
The Vet Club Leadership Award - Laurence Walden.
Fonterra Best Practice Award - Reece Williams and Jessica Berry.
New Zealand Farm Source Management Award - Nathan and Elri Levin.
Primary ITO Human Resource Management Award - Reece Williams and Jessica Berry.
Westpac Financial Planning and Management Award - Matt and Chloe Walker.
Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:
Camco Dairy Services/Waikato Milking Systems Most Promising Entrant - Claudia Odlin.
T.H Enterprises Lrd Farming Knowledge Award - Gerard van der Mark.
Rotorua Lakes Council Leadership Award - Olivia Wade.
DairyNZ Practical Skills Award - Colin Tremain.