Sharon recently attended the 2024 Manawatu Dairy Industry Awards in Palmerston North.
The evening got off to an entertaining start with Master of Ceremonies and local radio announcer, Gareth Pringle.
The 23 Dairy Award participants were introduced individually as they entered the room and graced the stage, receiving a massive applause from the crowd.
It was inspiring to see these people who have started out on their journey, deciding to take on a career in dairy farming, and will go on to be future leaders of the Dairy Industry.
The Awards have three major categories; Dairy Trainee, Dairy Manager and Share Farmer of the year.
Will Hinton and Kali Rangiawha were named the 2024 Manawatu Share Farmers of the Year. Will and Kali are contract milking on a 113ha dairy farm at Halcombe, milking 344 cows.
Manawatu Dairy Manager of the Year went to Luke Ackerman, who farms on a 180ha property on the outskirts of Palmerston North, milking 383 cows.
Isabella Panettiere, who currently works on a dairy farm at Longburn, took out the Award for Dairy Trainee of the Year.
It was inspiring to be seated at a table with two entrants in the Dairy Trainee of the Year Award, and to have a chat with Dorothy Harris about her journey so far which started in hospitality and ended up where she is now, Herd Manager at Massey Dairy #4.
The National finals will be held in Queenstown on 11th May, 2024 and we wish all the best to the contestants from all over New Zealand.
Photo: Sharefarmer of the Year Winners.
Left to right: Isabella Panettiere, Kali Rangiawha, William Hinton, Luke Ackerman