"This is my third year judging and it's been wonderful to see the use of technology on farm increase over that time, and used so well. The younger people are using the advances in technology to their advantage and there is just so much you can do with it now, from data collection through to communicating with their staff."
He said the O'Malleys were an excellent example of how embracing technology can enhance on farm health and safety practices.
"An example of this was their use of a free app to communicate with their team to notify them immediately of a new hazard identified on-farm."
In winning the national title and $50,700 in cash and prizes, the couple demonstrated strengths in human resource and herd management. They won three merit awards with the DairyNZ Human Resources Award, Fonterra Farm Source Interview Award and the LIC Recording and Productivity Award.
The O'Malleys, both 34, are 50 per cent sharemilking 515 cows on Graham Brooker's 138ha farm in Ashburton.
The runners-up in the Share Farmer of the Year competition, Ngakuru 50 per cent sharemilkers Carlos and Bernice Delos Santos have a real drive and passion to prove themselves in the New Zealand farming sector. They also won the Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene merit award.
"We walked into their cowshed and couldn't believe it was over 30 years old, it looked fantastic. They lived and breathed their philosophy that the cowshed was the place where they produce the finest quality milk that goes onto supply food for the rest of the world," said Mr Gray.
The Delos Santos, both 33, are originally from the Philippines and began farming in New Zealand in 2001, progressing through the industry from farm assistant to their current sharemilking position, which they have held since 2015. They won $24,000 in cash and prizes.
For the first time, a sole woman has won the Dairy Manager competition. A 'quiet-achiever' is how judges described the 2017 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year, Hayley Hoogendyk.
"She has an all-round solid approach to the way she manages the farm she is working on. Her staff management was exceptional and her ability to set tasks and achieve targets were all linked to her people management skills," said Mr Kyte.
The 28-year-old former event manager is farm manager for Te Paratai Farms Ltd, on Nigel, Roger & Noelene Taylor 's 220ha, 600 cow property in Rongotea. She won $22,600 in cash and prizes. She also won the PrimaryITO Power Play Award. She was the Manawatu Dairy Trainee of the Year in 2014.
"She's a young woman managing a team of men and does well motivating them to perform at a very high level. Her team hold her in high-regard and there is a great team culture. She understands all the different personalities of her staff and how they fit in with each other.
"Her on-farm skills were exceptional. The farm business is performing well and her pasture management is excellent. Hayley is a hands-on manager and likes being out there alongside her staff."
The 2017 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year, Clay Paton, is very focused on his career goals, and is a passionate advocate for the industry. He has a bright future ahead of him, said Dairy Trainee head judge Andrew Reid from DairyNZ.
Mr Paton, 23, won $11,095 in prizes and the Best Video Award. He is 2IC on Brent and Michelle Riley's 163ha Wakefield farm milking 450 cows.
Third placegetter Taylor Macdonald is second-in-charge for Phil and Diane Herdman on their 470-cow property at Reporoa. He was very knowledgeable about the issues facing farming and had a very mature outlook on where he wants to go as an individual. He won $3000 in cash and prizes, and the DairyNZ Practical Skills Award.
Full Results:
2017 New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year:
Winner - Christopher and Siobhan O'Malley, Canterbury-North Otago
Runner-up - Carlos and Bernice Delos Santos, Central Plateau
Third - Dion and Johanna Bishell, Taranaki
DairyNZ Human Resources Award - Christopher and Siobhan O'Malley
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award - Carlos and Bernice Delos Santos
Federated Farmers Leadership Award - Jon and Vicki Nicholls
Fonterra Farm Source Interview Award - Christopher and Siobhan O'Malley
Honda Farm Safety and Health Award - Dion and Johanna Bishell
LIC Recording and Productivity Award - Christopher and Siobhan O'Malley
Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award - Dion and Johanna Bishell
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award - Russell and Tracy Bouma
Westpac Business Performance Award - Dion and Johanna Bishell
2017 New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year:
Winner - Hayley Hoogendyk, Manawatu
Runner-up - Kerry Higgins, Canterbury-North Otago
Third - Rachel Foy, Auckland-Hauraki
Dairy Manager of the Year Interview Award - Greg Imeson
DairyNZ Employee Engagement Award - Anthony Kiff
Meridian Energy Leadership Award - Jack Raharuhi
Fonterra Farm Source Feed Management Award - Rachel Foy
DeLaval Livestock Management Award - Shaun Neal
PrimaryITO Power Play Award - Hayley Hoogendyk
Fonterra Farm Source Dairy Management Award - Kerry Higgins
Westpac Financial Management & Planning Award - Kerry Higgins
2017 New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year:
Winner - Clay Paton, West Coast-Top of the South
Runner-up - Ben Haley, Canterbury-North Otago
Third - Taylor Macdonald, Central Plateau
DairyNZ Practical Skills Award - Taylor Macdonald
NZDIA Communication and Engagement Award - Ben Haley
Best Video Award presented by Spyglass - Clay Paton
