'The dairy industry is continually coming up with innovative ways to use resources more efficiently so that our dairy is sustainable, which can lower our environmental footprint and give New Zealand's milk a competitive edge,” say Glen and Donna Sparrow, the 2016 Bay of Plenty Share Farmers of the Year.

Glen and Donna Sparrow, Bay of Plenty Share Farmers of the Year, want to use farm resources more efficiently.

The other major winners were Thomas Chatfield, the 2016 Bay of Plenty Dairy Manager of the Year, and Michael Simpson, the 2016 Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year.

Glen and Donna Sparrow say their goal is to create profitable and sustainable sharemilking businesses that provide them with a good income and ensure financial security for their family.

The couple, aged 38 and 35 years and with four children, is currently contract milking 450 cows for Craig and Marianne Hammond at Whakatane.

They were third in the Dairy Manager competition last year and say the awards had raised their profile, increased their knowledge, tested their skills, provided networking opportunities, pushed their personal boundaries and given them recognition.

The Sparrows say their strengths are their personnel and their focus on profit over production. 'Focusing on profit increases your awareness of costs and stock requirements, ensuring stock are well cared for and in good condition. It also means we use existing resources to their full potential, especially pastures.”

The couple are actively positioning themselves to take advantage of any sharemilking opportunities that become available.

The runner-up in the Share Farmer competition was 28-year-old Matt Barr, a percentage sharemilker milking 450 cows on his parents Whakatane farm.

It is two out of two for the 2016 Bay of Plenty Dairy Manager of the Year, Thomas Chatfield.

In 2013 the former physiotherapist entered and won the region's Dairy Trainee of the Year title and went on to place second in the national competition. This year he has been successful in the region's Dairy Manager competition.

Mr Chatfield, aged 30 years, says the awards give him an opportunity to assess how he is progressing. He is the farm manager for Bruce and Judy Woods on their 500-cow Whakatane property and is also positioning himself for his next opportunity.

'My farming goal is to be ready with the cash to take on my next farming job whatever it may be – contract milking, 50 per cent sharemilking or an equity partnership. I want to build my assets to one day own a farm.”

He says he has a good team around him and is operating a flexible farming system. 'We've got the ability to decrease our cost of production while increasing the amount of milk we produce by growing and harvesting more grass.”

Whakatane farm managers Hayden and Linda McCartie, aged 34 and 37 years, placed second in the Dairy Manager competition. The couple work with the region's third-place-getter in the Dairy Trainee competition – Hayden Goodall, a 23-year-old farm assistant on the same property.

Te Puke farm manager Baljinder Singh was third in the Dairy Manager competition.

The 2016 Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year, Michael Simpson, is passionate about his dairy farming work and seeks to make a difference.

'I am always looking for ways that things on farm could be done better or easier and am always willing to try new things. I enjoy learning and gaining knowledge on all things farming related,” Mr Simpson says.

The 20-year-old is currently second-in-charge on Eddie and Kath Lambert's 450-cow farm at Whakatane.

'A big benefit of entering the awards is that I can list on my CV that I have competed and previously progressed to the finals. Any future employers would look at this and make the assumption that I am passionate about the industry and my career. Another big benefit is the opportunity to gain confidence in interview and competition situations, as well as networking with other like-minded people.”

Mr Simpson plans to progress to a manager's position within three years and then build a herd of his own. 'I have already started to acquire animals to make this goal a reality.”

His other interests are hunting and trout fishing. 'I like to get away from everything as farming at times can be challenging and tiresome. These activities also allow me to return to the farm refreshed and with a clear and focused mind.”

Whakatane assistant manager Harepaora Ngaheu, aged 24 years, was second in the Dairy Trainee competition. Mr Goodall was third.

The Bay of Plenty Dairy Industry Awards field day will be held on April 5 on the Whakatane farm where Share Farmers of the Year, Glen and Donna Sparrow, contract milk

Share Farmer Merit Awards:

• DairyNZ Human Resources Award – Matt Barr
• Ecolab Farm Dairy Hygiene Award – Adam & Maria Barkla
• Federated Farmers Leadership Award – Matt Barr
• Honda Farm Safety and Health Award – Troy & Natalie McClinchie
• LIC Recording and Productivity Award – Troy & Natalie McClinchie
• Meridian Energy Farm Environment Award – Adam & Maria Barkla
• Ravensdown Pasture Performance Award – Glen & Donna Sparrow
• Westpac Business Performance Award – Glen & Donna Sparrow

Dairy Manager Merit Awards:

• BOP Regional Council Most Promising Entrant Award – Baljinder Singh
• The Business Results Group Ltd Employee Engagement Award – Thomas Chatfield
• BlackmanSpargo Rural Law Ltd Leadership Award – Andre Meier
• Fonterra Farm Source Feed Management Award – Thomas Chatfield
• DeLaval Livestock Management Award – Hayden & Linda McCartie
• Primary ITO Power Play Award – Thomas Chatfield
• Fonterra Farm Source Farm Management Award – Hayden & Linda McCartie
• Westpac Financial Management & Planning Award – Thomas Chatfield

Dairy Trainee Merit Awards:

• Waiotahi Contractors Ltd Most Promising Entrant Award – Lindsay Williams
• The Wrangler Farming Knowledge Award – Hayden Goodall
• Hayward Contracting Ltd Community & Industry Involvement Award – Joseph Braybrook
• DairyNZ Practical Skills Award – Hayden Goodall

Bay of Plenty Dairy Manager of the Year Thomas Chatfield.

Bay of Plenty Dairy Trainee of the Year Michael Simpson.