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It was a case of deja moo for two local dairymen at the annual Northland Dairy Industry Awards, held in Whangarei on March 7.
Wellsford farm manager Fred Hohaia was runner-up in the Dairy Manager category, and Kaiwaka farm assistant Tipene Hape came third in the Dairy Trainee section – the second time both men had achieved that particular placing.
Fred Hohaia, who manages Colin and Isabella Beazley’s 500-cow herd at Te Hana, also placed second in the 2018 awards.
This year, he took home $2500 in prizes and two merit awards. He said he enjoyed the awards’ process and future farming goals for him and his partner Sarah included herd ownership and property investment.
“I’ve been farming for a number of years now and still enjoy the challenges each season brings,” he said. “We are on a path to herd ownership through hard work and determination.”
Tipene Hape milks 440 cows on Kevin Sidwell’s Kaiwaka property. He first placed third in the trainee category at the 2019 awards. This year, the 24-year-old won $1250 in prizes.
“I’ve really enjoyed the peer-to-peer contact through the awards and stepping outside my comfort zone,” he said.
