Time is running out for people to enter the 2019 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, with entries closing this Friday 16 November.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards provide a learning and growth platform for young and emerging farmers as they progress in their careers. “We provide an opportunity for entrants to learn about themselves and the industry, to connect with other like-minded people, and to grow their business, their career and themselves personally,” says General Manager Chris Keeping.

“As an organisation we take immense pride in contributing to the development of the new generation of farmers,” she says. “Seeing previous entrants and winners progress in their careers and take on leadership roles in the dairy sector and their local communities is hugely rewarding.”

The Awards strive to keep pace with the rapidly changing dairy industry to remain relevant and reflective of what is required to be a successful farmer for both today and tomorrow’s world and changes to the visa criteria for Dairy Trainee and Dairy Manager categories reflect this.

Other key initiatives include a pilot investigating the suitability of the Share Farmer programme as a learning pathway for the NZ Diploma in Agribusiness Management and establishing Regional Ambassadors to identify and support prospective entrants.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy and Ravensdown, along with industry partners DairyNZ and PrimaryITO.

Entries for the 2019 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards can be made via www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz until midnight Friday 16 November 2018.