Dairy farmers are encouraged to get a moo-ve on and enter the 2025 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA).

“Just put yourself out there and give it a try.

“It’s a good way to progress,” Says NZDIA Canterbury/North Otago regional manager and Ashburton dairy farmer Jonathan Hoets.

Hoets and wife Stacey won the Canterbury/North Otago Share Farmer of the Year in the 2023 awards.

The couple have entered the awards before, using the entry process to improve their farm management skills.

“Our main goal was to use the awards as a free way to get someone else to look at our business, pull it apart and see where we can improve.”

Hoets sees the awards as a gateway to industry leadership, one of his long-term goals.

“The awards exposed me to industry leaders, and I had conversations with directors of Fonterra and DairyNZ and saw where the industry is going.

“I am on the board of DairyNZ now, and I’m sure entering the awards had something to do with that.”

The Awards encompass New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year and Fonterra Responsible Dairying of the Year categories across 11 regions, three of which are in the South Island.

Entries for the NZDIA close at midnight on December 7, and farmers can enter online via the NZDIA website.

NZDIA general manager Robin Congdon said the awards are not only a prestigious programme with hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes, they are a learning platform where people can secure their future, learn, connect and grow, both personally and professionally.

“The Awards promote best practice within the dairy industry and give entrants the chance to challenge themselves, connect with others, earn a regional or national title and to share in substantial regional and national prize pools.”

Regional finals will run over March 2025, with winners announced at an awards dinner event for each region.

Regional finalists will be running for the national awards, which will be announced at a gala dinner in May 2025 in the Bay of Plenty.

By Claire Inkson