CooperAitken are extremely passionate about our communities and taking pride in getting involved and supporting in any way we can.

One of the many ways we are involved in supporting the agricultural industry is through the  Waikato New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, as a sponsor, as well as many team members having held the role of Treasurer for the Waikato Committee.

Having grown up in the Waikato and being immersed in the agricultural industry, I have always been passionate about it. I was thrilled to take on the role of Treasurer for the Waikato region and be part of this incredible program.

There is no doubt about the value the dairy industry brings to New Zealand, and to be able to support an awards program where entrants are extraordinary ambassadors, showing their passion for and dedication to the industry, is a great program to be involved in.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards have been a benchmark of the industry, celebrating innovation, achievement, and the best of dairying in New Zealand since 1989. Annually the awards have a number of events co-ordinated over 11 different award regions leading into the national awards finals.

The events provide the opportunity of collaboration between farmers, industry specialists and key support businesses, providing many learning opportunities, whether you’re involved as an entrant, judge, sponsor, or part of the committee. It is a great way to connect with like-minded people who are passionate and positive about the future of the dairy industry.

Not only do the awards offer incredible prizes, many entrants also credit the awards for having a huge impact on their careers, adding value to their CV, building connections, progressing in the industry, and connecting with mentors. Sharefarmers also find significant benefit from learning more about their farming business through the in-depth judging criteria.

There are Four Awards Categories:

• Dairy Trainee of the Year
• Dairy Manager of the Year
• Share Farmer of the Year
• Responsible Dairying Award

More information about each category can be found here.

The judging process takes place over a number of weeks, tailored specifically for each category. Dairy Trainee entrants are judged at a group a skills day involving hands-on practical skills and general knowledge. Dairy Manager and Share Farmers consist of organised farm visits by the judges to assess a number of areas including, pasture and feed, livestock, farm environmental and sustainability, people and culture.