The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards national finals are being held this weekend, with finalists from 11 regions across the country heading to Rotorua. Finalists are competing across three categories: Dairy Trainee, Farm Manager and Share Farmer of the Year.

Each entrant has been through at least three rounds of judging since regional competitions began in February, says Maegan Legg, chair of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards. Legg says the programme covers people and culture, milk quality, environment, and health and safety, with no single category carrying more weight than the others.

“It’s a combination of all of those put together.”

Entrants receive judging appraisals ahead of each round so they know what to expect, Legg says.

“The connection and the growth and the business decisions they make from it, it’s unexplainable how much they get out of it when they’re out and about.”

The awards span a wide range of experience levels, and Legg says the trainee category — open to those with fewer than three years of full-time experience — is a particular highlight.

“For some of them, it’s leaving their home regions for the first time coming to the national awards.

“It’s meeting other farmers and learning different farm systems, it’s huge for our trainees.”

Entry numbers vary by region, Legg says, with some regions quieter than in previous years and others significantly up.

“We’ve got massive entry numbers this year and we’re really happy with the calibre of entrants we’ve got coming through.”

Ahead of Saturday’s ceremony, finalists spent Friday on sponsor experiences including a cooking competition and lawn bowls.

CountryWide CONNECT with Andy Thompson & Sarah Perriam-Lampp is our daily rural show livestreamed from 11am-1pm. Visit country-wide.co.nz on how to watch/listen or download the CountryWide CONNECT mobile app, available on Apple iOS and Android.