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There was cause for celebration on two Wellsford farms last week, when family members scooped prizes at the 2021 Northland Dairy Industry Awards in Whangarei on March 9.
Farm manager Daniel Richards won $2000 in prizes and two merit awards as runner-up in the regional dairy manager category, while Te Hana farm assistant Michaela McCracken picked up $1,250 in prizes and a merit award for being named runner-up in the dairy trainee section.
Daniel is 23 and works on Alan and Jody Richards’ 295-cow, 125ha property. The Kaipara Young Farmers member said he would like to improve the public perception of the dairy industry. As well as his cash prize, Daniel won the Webb Ross McNab Kilpatrick leadership award and the Northern Wairoa Vet Club Association feed management award.
Michaela McCracken, 21, grew up on a 450ha dairy farm milking 370 cows. She began working part-time as a farm-hand in January last year, progressing to a full-time position in March.
“I work on our family farm with cows my family has bred for 50 years, and I love being able to carry that breeding on,” she says. “I’m excited to see how we can improve and produce better dairy cows in the future through genetics.”
Michaela was awarded the Pacific Motor Group community and industry involvement award.
This was the first time that both young farmers had entered the annual dairy industry awards.
