Waikato AgriBusiness News June 2021

18 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS June 2021
Share Farmers of the Year Sumit Kamboj and Manoj Kumar
Winning dairy manager
shows attention to detail
Dairy Trainee of the Year Ruth Connolly
From page 16
The 2021 Share Farmers
of the Year are
driven, professional and
high-achieving siblings who
benchmark excellence within
the industry.
Share Farmer head judge
Jacqui Groves, from Westpac,
says Manoj Kumar and Sumit
Kamboj impressed the judges
with glowing reports from
current and past employers
and employees.
“They have amazing relationships
with two sets of
owners, who really believe in
them.”
The judges were also
impressed with their on-farm
presentation, which used
drone footage from their family
farm in Northern India
MERIT AWARDS
to explain their history and
where they are from. “They
literally took us there.”
“We were pretty blown
away after meeting them,”
said Groves. “They became
‘our boys’ and they benchmarked
excellence.”
The brothers are 50/50
sharemilkers on Andrew and
Monika Arbuthnott, Geoff
Arends and Ester Romp’s
285ha, 460-cow Eketahuna
property.
Both Kumar and Kamboj
have entered the Awards previously,
with Kamboj placing
third in the 2018 Hawke’s
Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Manager
category.
They say entering the
Awards programme has created
an excellent network
within the industry and valuable
feedback from judges.
“We overcame the lack of
2021 NEW ZEALAND DAIRY
TRAINEE OF THE YEAR:
• Winner – Ruth Connolly, Waikato
• Runner-up – Dayna Rowe, Bay Of Plenty
• Third – Mattes Groenendijk,
Canterbury/North Otago
DairyNZ Practical Skills Award
Mattes Groenendijk
Federated Farmers Farming Knowledge Award
Ruth Connolly
DeLaval Communication & Engagement Award
Dayna Rowe
Best Video Award presented by Streamliner
Dayna Rowe
a network by engaging more
and more in dairy industry
events.
“The New Zealand dairy
farming system is totally different
from back home in India
and it really appeals to us.
To win the national title,
Kumar and Kamboj demonstrated
strengths in leadership,
health and farm safety,
business and community
engagement.
Fellow Share Farmer judge
Guy Michaels from DairyNZ
says the brothers demonstrated
involvement and leadership
in the local community
and in the dairy community.
“They have a willingness to
work with others to achieve
joint goals and advocate on
behalf of others,” he said.
An example of this was
the brothers assisting a family
in Wellington who had lost
employment due to Covid-19.
“They relocated the family
and encouraged them into a
role within the dairy industry.”
The judges also noted
that the brothers had a strong
health and safety culture
on-farm. “They have a long
history of recording incidents
and actually following
through with changes.”
Judge Guy Michaels from
DairyNZ noted how strong
the brothers were in their
community involvement and
leadership.
“They have promoted PrimaryITO
courses to everyone
in their community and have
offered up one of their buildings
to ensure the training
takes place.”
A strong message across
the first, second and third
positions was that there are
progression pathways in the
industry.
“The message I often hear
is that there aren’t any progression
pathways, it’s too
hard,” says John Numan. “But
there are.
“These people are achieving
it because they have the
right attitude that encourages
their employers to promote
and back them in their
business.
“There are four things
you need to progress, and
I call it the four A’s. Attention
to detail, ability to
save, ambition and attitude.
“If you’ve got those
things, and the respect of
the owner, you’ll go far.”
The judges also noted
a theme across the board
this year relating to the
strong connections between
farm owners, employers,
and staff.
“There’s a firm link
between farming and the
environment. It’s a generational
change, and the
message is that change is
coming, it’s normal and
accepted.”
“They’re discussing
environmental matters, sustainability
and recycling on
a daily basis and there’s a
general understanding of
greenhouse gases and environmental
biosecurity.”
The runners-up in the
Share Farmer of the Year
competition, Waikato sharemilkers
and equity partners
Reuben and Deb Connolly,
were described by the
judges as the epitome of a
young sharemilking couple.
“They are very thorough
and motivating,” says Jacqui.
“They’re a young couple
working hard and loving
every day of their life
with their family.”
The Connollys have
been 50/50 sharemilkers
and 20% equity partners
with John and Fiona
Worsnop on Woolly Farm
Ltd’s 110ha, 280-cow Otorohanga
property for the
past four seasons.
The judges noted they
have demonstrated real
passion for their cows and
breeding.
“They had KPIs of capaciousness,
fertility, udders
and environmental footprint,”
they said.
2021 NEW ZEALAND SHARE
FARMER OF THE YEAR:
• Winner - Manoj Kumar & Sumit Kamboj,
Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa
• Runner-Up- Reuben & Deb Connolly, Waikato
• Third - Andrea & Blair Muggeridge, Central Plateau
MERIT AWARDS
DairyNZ Human Resources Award
Andrea & Blair Muggeridge
Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award
John Wyatt
Federated Farmers Leadership Award
Manoj Kumar & Sumit Kamboj
Honda Farm Safety, Health & Biosecurity Award
Manoj Kumar & Sumit Kamboj
LIC Recording and Productivity Award
Reuben & Deb Connolly
Meridian Farm Environment Award
Andrea & Blair Muggeridge
Ecolab Interview Award
Katrina Pearson
Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award
John Wyatt
Westpac Business Performance Award
Manoj Kumar & Sumit Kamboj
2021 FONTERRA
RESPONSIBLE DAIRYING
AWARD:
Pete Morgan and Ann Bouma,
Waikato (see story, page 20)