Three entrants in the 2013 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards have won farm bikes worth $4000, just for entering.
All those that entered the awards before December 1 last year and progressed through the judging process were eligible for the Early Bird Prize Draw to win one of three Honda XR125 Duster farm bikes valued at $4000.
The draw took place on Friday April 5 and one bike was drawn from early entrants in each contest – the New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Farm Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year.
“It’s a generous incentive and has certainly helped to get entries in early and dissipate the late rush of entries,” national convenor Chris Keeping says. “Every farmer needs a good bike!”
There were 428 entrants eligible for the prize draw, up from 381 the previous year, and 566 entrants in total in the 2013 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards.
The awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DairyNZ, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles NZ, LIC, Meridian Energy, Ravensdown and RD1, along with industry partner AgITO.
Southland Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year entrants Steve Henderson and Tracy Heale, of Winton, received their new bike at the region’s awards dinner on Friday night April 5.
The other winners were:
Dairy Trainee of the Year, Central Plateau – Reece Cox, Taupo
Farm Manager of the Year, West Coast/Top of the South – Hayden George, Dobson
Mr Cox was placed runner-up in the region’s trainee contest while Hayden George will learn if further reward will come his way when the region holds its awards dinner on Thursday April 11.
Visit this website for more information on the awards programme, including details on the regional awards winners and subsequent field days.