Regional winners, place getters and merit award winners will be announced at Regional Awards Dinners around the country in March, with categories for Share Farmer of the Year, Dairy Manager of the Year, and Dairy Trainee of the Year.
For the first time, regional nominees of the Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award (FRDA) will be acknowledged at their local dinner.
The three winners of each category and the three FRDA finalists will then go to the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards National final, with national winners announced in Queenstown on Saturday 11th May.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards attracted 340 entrants from across the country, working in all levels of the dairy industry.
The three categories give entrants the chance to challenge themselves, earn a regional or national title and to share in substantial regional and national prize pools.
NZDIA General Manager Robin Congdon says the regional awards dinners are always a night of celebration, and not just for the winners. "The regional dinners not only focus on the regional winners and those in other categories, but provide another opportunity to meet, network and socialise with like-minded people who live and breathe the dairy industry."
"It's also an opportunity for the volunteers and sponsors to be acknowledged as they provide invaluable support in so many ways to the entrants and the Awards."
The theme of the dinners centres around 'The Year of the Dragon', which according to the Chinese zodiac, is associated with strength, prosperity, and good fortune and signifies the beginning of new adventures and the realisation of dreams.
"The dragon's energy reminds us of the strength we find within ourselves to persevere in our daily work on our dairy farms which are not merely businesses; they are a source of sustenance for our families, our communities, and beyond," explains Robin.
"Just as the dragon soars into the sky, our farmers can aim for new heights in our farming practices, embracing innovation and sustainable methods to ensure that our dairy farms thrive for generations to come."
Robin says entering one of the categories remains one of the best ways people can raise their profile and reputation, as well as learn more about the industry to progress their career.
"The overwhelmingly positive feedback we receive from entrants is how much they learnt during the process and how glad they are they entered," he says.
"Entering the Awards really is a learning journey - about the industry, about your business and about you as a farmer," says Robin.
The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors CowManager, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda, LIC, Meridian, Ravensdown, and Trelleborg, along with industry partners DairyNZ, MediaWorks and Rural Training Solutions NZ.
To purchase tickets for a regional New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Dinner and for more information on the New Zealand Dairy Awards visit www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz.