Change of guard at National Fieldays Farm awards

WESTMORLAND ESTATE Ltd, which runs three dairy farms in Waikato with a multinational team of workers, recently held its annual performance awards.

This event is to celebrate the team and how their hard work contributes to the success of and the wider dairy industry.

The whole Westmorland team gathered in Matamata for the event; industry stakeholders were also present.

Owned by David and Sue Fish, the three farms –Somerset Farm, Westmorland Farm and Sandhurst Farm supply milk to two co-ops, Fonterra and Tatua.

The Best Cows Award 2023 went to the Sandhurst team; Dries Verrycken, Levge- nii Dushkevych, Ken Ragasajo and Brian Garcia.

The Lowest SCC Award 2023 went to Somerset team; Dries Verrycken, Fredrico Lopez, Declan Tully and Barbara Hinton.

The Best Calves Award 2023 went to Sandhurst: Dries Verrycken, Paola Verrycken, Levgenii Dushkevych, Ken Ragasajo and Brian Garcia.

The Farm Pride Award was also won by Sandhurst team; Dries Verrycken, Paola Verrycken, Levgenii Dushkevych, Ken Ragasajo and Brian Garcia.

The Empty rate Award 2023 was won by Westmorland team; Dries Verrycken, David Fish, Aubrey Fish and Yurii Kokhanevych.

THE NEW Zealand National Fieldays Society has elected Waikato farmer and businesswoman Jenni Vernon at their recent annual general meeting-their first female president/board chair in the organisation’s 55-year history.

While having been on the board for the past 10 years and having held the position of vice president for the past 3 years, Vernon also farms a dry stock unit in partnership with her husband Gordon and son Simon, at Te Akatea, in northwest Waikato.

Having initially trained as a teacher, she has spent more than four decades in farming and governance, became the first female Nuffield Scholar and the first woman chair of Environment Vernon takes over the reins from outgoing President James Allen, who following the rules of the Society has completed his third and final year as president. Vernon acknowledged the contribution that James made to the Society, providing leadership during the uncertain times of Covid-19, while also running his own business.”

She is looking forward to working with the new board alongside the Fieldays management team to deliver on a strong strategic direction and plan for growth.

“With just over 80 days to us delivering Fieldays 2023, some new events coming to Mystery Creek and some exciting plans for the future, we have plenty of work to do,” she says.

The new board also comprises, vice president – Tim Hale, immediate past president – James Allen, Lynette Pearks, Graeme Austin, Margaret Cameron, Clint Gulliver, Jo Finer, Mike Chapman and Barry Quayle.