Michael and Cheryl Shearer have won the 2024 West Coast/ Top of the South Share Farmer of the Year at the region's Dairy Industry Awards in Shantytown.

The award dinner, on March 23, saw Michael Shearer add to his trophy cabinet. He had previously won Taranaki Farm Manager of the Year in 2014 and West Coast/Top of the South Dairy Trainee of the Year in 2012.

"It's nice to have all three now with manager, trainee and share milker.

"It's nice to have the trifecta and finally finish that off."

The Shearers are 50/50 share milkers on Russell Andrews' 225-hectare property in Reefton, milking 500 cows.

Shearer said his previous experience entering the awards had helped him progress in his career and prepared him for the 2024 competition.

"Knowing how the process works, with the manager and share milker competition being reasonably similar in terms of the judging process, definitely helped.

"I knew what they were looking for, how to collect the data, and how to represent it.

"That was a big part."

Shearer said he is naturally competitive and enjoys the competition and comradery of the awards and the networking opportunities.

"The number of contacts I have made through the awards is massive, and it's great rubbing shoulders with motivated people."

"It's great for having a fresh look at your business, what you do and why you do it, so it helps keep your business sharp as well."

The Shearers have faced challenges in their farming careers, including the 2019 Tasman forest fires, during which they had to evacuate their cows for two weeks, but the couple has maintained a positive mindset.

"I actually enjoy the hard times as they drive you to better your business and find different options and ways of doing things," says Michael.

The Shearers won $8,000 in prizes and four merit awards at the regional finals and now look forward to the national finals in Queenstown in May.

"One thing I did this year was to ask previous winners for advice on what to put in different categories and how to present it, so I'll be doing more of that."

"There won't be too many changes to the presentation. I'm just working on adding a few critical bits here and there and maybe changing a few of the presentation methods.

"You've only got a short amount of time to explain your whole business, and it's all about how you can get your point across in the most efficient way."

The other big winners at the region's awards were Trinity Jackson, the 2024 West Coast/Top of the South Dairy Manager of the Year, and Alexandra Davidson, the 2024 West Coast/Top of the South Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Jackson is the farm manager for Pāmu Farms of New Zealand on the 441-hectare, 800-cow Moana property. She won $7,000 in prizes and three merit awards.

Davidson is farm assistant the Birchlea Trust 300-hectare, 725-cow farm at St Arnaud and took home $6,500 in prizes and one merit award.

Other 2024 West Coast/ Top of the South Dairy Industry Merit Awards winners:

Share Farmer Merit Awards:

• DairyNZ – People and Culture Award : Warric & Rachel Johnson
• Ecolab Total Farm Hygiene Award : Warric & Rachel Johnson
• Federated Farmers Leadership Award : Michael and Cheryl Shearer
• Honda Farm Safety, Health and Biosecurity Award : Warric & Rachel Johnson
• LIC – Animal Wellbeing, Recording and Productivity Award : Michael and Cheryl Shearer
• Meridian Environmental Sustainability Award : Michael and Cheryl Shearer
• Ravensdown Sustainable Pasture Award : Luke Chisnall & Charlotte Harding
• Cuffs Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors Business Performance Award:  Michael and Cheryl Shearer
• Westland Milk Products Emerging Talent Award:  Mark and Ester Tubman

Dairy Manager Merit

• DeLaval Livestock Management Award :  Kieran Hamilton
• Fonterra Dairy Management Award:  Trinity Jackson
• Drummond & Etheridge Environmental Sustainability Award:  Trinity Jackson
• Silver Fern Farms Pasture & Feed Management Award : Kieran Hamilton
• Parry Field Lawyers People & Leadership Award:  Trinity Jackson
• Cow Manager Personal Planning & Financial Management Award:  Kieran Hamilton

Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:

• DairyNZ Practical Skills Award:  Sapphire Jordan
• WCTOS Dairy Industry Awards - Committee Emerging Talent Award:  Hannah Payne
• Pāmu Farms of New Zealand Farming Knowledge Award:  Sapphire Jordan
• Greenfield Motors Communication & Industry Involvement Award:  Alexandra Davidson

by Claire Inkson