Wairarapa sweeps awards

Wairarapa farmers pulled off a clean sweep of the major awards at the 2012 Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Awards with the top award going to a young Martinborough couple who juggle caring for cows with raising three children under five.

The Dairy Awards were held at Masterton's Copthorne Hotel and Resort Solway Park last week.

William and Sally Bosch were named Sharemilker/Equity Farmer of the Year, taking home the top prize of $14,300 in cash and prizes.

Mr Bosch, 26, has already chalked up 10 years in dairying and with his wife has progressed through the ranks from working on a farm, managing, lower order sharemilking and now 50 per cent sharemilking with 330 cows on a 91-hectare farm owned by Jenny Tucker.

Their farming goal is to own their own land to support their family.

The couple say their strengths are working as a team and being willing and ready to learn.

Second place in the sharemilker/equity farmer contest went to Shaun and Kate Mitchell, of Pahiatua, and third to Norsewood farming couple Craig and Angela Rosacker.

Farm managers of the year, Dean and Rochelle Jones, are contract milking a herd of 615 cows for Bruce and Tina Patrick, near Masterton.

They won prizes worth $9600.

Mr and Mrs Jones, both 39, entered the dairy industry nine years ago and their goal is to stay in the job they are in, continuing to improve production and business performance.

This year was the first time the couple had entered the awards.

Ryan Gooding, a Featherston contract milker, was runner-up in the farmer manager contest.

Dairy trainee of the Year went to Dyana Barnes, who won $6500 in prizes.

Ms Barnes, 23, is the farm assistant for her partner Shawn Hanson on a 670-cow farm in Featherston they oversee for Alec and Julie Dondertman.

Having grown up on a dairy farm, Ms Barnes left school in 2006 to begin her own dairy farming career, only taking time out to have her two children.

Second place in the dairy trainee contest went to Ruth Hone of Takapau and third to Scott Dormer of Featherston.