Olivia Sutton and Craig Dobbe were named the 2026 Auckland Hauraki Share Farmers of the Year at the region's NZ Dairy Industry Awards.
The winners of the 2026 Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards were announced at the annual awards dinner at the Thames Civic Centre on Tuesday evening.
Olivia Sutton and Craig Dobbe are the 2026 Auckland/Hauraki Share Farmers of the Year, with Owen Clifford named Dairy Manager of the Year and the title of Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Trainee of the Year awarded to Wil Wilkie.
Sutton and Dobbe felt like this year was the right time to challenge themselves and enter the Dairy Industry Awards – and they were right.
Dobbe, 29, and Sutton, 25, are 33% equity partners in JRC Farm Limited at Waerenga, milking 200 cows on 190ha.
The couple won the title, a $13,275 prize package and six merit awards.
They both come from farming backgrounds and have progressed through the industry from farm assistants to managers, contract milking, and into an equity partnership.
Dobbe also has five years’ experience as a mechanic, which comes in handy on-farm, while Sutton is a trained AI technician.
The couple are in an equity partnership with Sutton’s grandmother and mother, and are focused on operating a sustainable farm for future generations.
The judges said the pair had a “detailed Farm Environmental Plan that was well understood”.
“They had put a lot of time and energy into plantings on-farm and had identified future infrastructure projects”.
Owen Clifford, 27, from Waerenga, is a farm manager for Ross and Tracey Laing, milking 475 cows on 200ha.
After five years farming in Britain, Clifford moved to New Zealand to work as a contractor before finding a job on a dairy farm.
He is excited about breeding top-performing cows while keeping costs minimal through a cost-effective, simple system.
The judges commented that his “passion and understanding of the herd was clear”.
“Owen’s record keeping was being used at a high level to make effective breeding and management decisions.”
Clifford has completed Primary IT0 Level 4 and the LIC DIY artificial insemination training course.
He has entered the Dairy Industry Awards three times, so he can meet like-minded people and learn from those operating different farming systems.
Clifford has plans to go sharemilking and work toward farm ownership.
He won a $9400 prize package and four merit awards.
Wil Wilkie, the 2026 Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Trainee of the Year, won $6400 and one merit award.
The 26-year-old is a farm assistant for Brendan and Tessa Hopson, milking 600 cows on their 200ha farm at Paeroa.
Wilkie has a Bachelor of Science and completed a Certificate of Primary Industry Skills at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology before his first job as a farm assistant.
“I have always been passionate about animals, so farming was an ideal career for me,” he said.
“I love getting to know the cows, and I enjoy the variety of different tasks I get to do every day.”
The judges said Wilkie demonstrated excellent farming knowledge across a wide range of areas.
“He confidently articulated a strong understanding of general farming practices and principles, including animal health, calving and mating management.
“In addition, he demonstrated exceptional knowledge in feed budgeting and a strong commitment to health and safety best practice”.
Further details on the Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Industry Awards winners and upcoming Field Day can be found here.
Auckland/Hauraki Share Farmer of the Year
Winner: Olivia Sutton and Craig Dobbe
Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Manager of the Year
Winner: Owen Clifford
Runner-up: Aristotle Sadinas
Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Trainee of the Year
Winner: Wil Wilkie
Runner-up: Zak Sattrup
Third: Robin Attwell
Share Farmer Merit Awards
Dairy Manager Merit
Dairy Trainee Merit Awards
- Supplied by New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards