Over the past two seasons, four of our Westland-supplying farms have featured strongly in the West Coast/Top of the South Dairy Industry Awards.

As a proud sponsor of the awards, Westland is encouraging our farmers to keep up this tradition by entering this season’s coming awards to showcase their own careers as well as the benefits of farming in our region.

A decision five years ago to choose farming over nursing culminated in Moana farmer Trinity Jackson winning West Coast/Top of the South Regional Dairy Manager of the Year last season.

Encouraged by her fiancé Tristan to try dairy farming, Trinity discovered a new passion in farming and decided to run with it.

“I love that dairying is not just a job but a lifestyle,’’ Trinity said. “I love everything about it from animal husbandry to working in the outdoors with my girls and some amazing people.’’

 She says she found even just the process of entering the awards extremely beneficial.

 “The feedback from the preliminary and finals judges was extremely beneficial to my presentation going forward to the nationals and also the constructive advice I received for my career in the industry,’’ she said.

 “I’ve made a lot of industry connections and as well proved a lot to myself. I’m very proud to not only be a representation for other rural woman in the industry, but to have done it while heavily pregnant! I truly proved to myself I can do anything I set my mind to with the right motivation.’’

 For the in 2022-23 Awards, Ireland Cain continued a strong farm tradition when she won the West Coast/Top of the South Regional Dairy Trainee Award. In 2022, she entered the awards after her employers took home the Share Farmer of the Year award in 2021 and was awarded the emerging talent award.

 “Proud as punch I re-entered the following year and took home big one!’’ she said.

 West Coast/Top of the South Regional Share Farmers Award winners in 2022-2023 Maria and Ricky Johnson say they primarily entered the awards that year to gain advice.

 Details on how to enter can be found here.