Celebrating the best of the NZ Dairy Industry

Learn, Connect, Grow. Stand out. Be rewarded.

MAIN ENTRIES OPEN NOW - CLOSE 5 DEC 2025. FIRST FARM AWARD OPEN 9 JAN – 9 MAR 2026. SEE MORE HERE

2026 NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN CLOSE 31 JANUARY 2026

Responsible Dairying Award

The Fonterra Responsible Dairy Award (FRDA) recognises farmers/farm businesses who are doing positive and aspirational things in the dairy sustainability space, and therefore contribute to good stories about the dairy industry.

SEE MORE ABOUT NOMINATING HERE

TOTAL PRIZE POOL VALUED AT

$1 MILLION + NZD

Our amazing, generous awards sponsors offer a combined awards prize pool for all regional and national award categories valued at $1M+ NZD. Get a taste of what's on offer below.

LEARN MORE

1 year using the Kioti HX 140hp tractor

Get the use of the Kioti HX 140hp tractor for a whole year, thanks to Power Farming. The HX model offers a spacious and comfortable cabin, user-friendly controls, a powerful engine, and an impressive lifting capacity that'll get your jobs done with ease. See more here.

ASB Alumni of the Year Award

The ASB Alumni of the Year Award recognises previous NZDIA SFOTY regional winners and past entrants who are no longer eligible because they have progressed to farm ownership or have more than 50% equity in a farm business.

The Alumni of the Year winner will receive up to $1 million of ASB Business Term Lending fixed at 1% per annum for three years. ASB's lending criteria, terms and fees apply.

See more about the ASB Alumni of the Year Award

Am I eligible?

Farm businesses/owners who own 50% or more of a farm business are eligible to enter

Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award

An exciting new initiative for first-time farm buyers, the Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award provides financial and strategic support to help the best in the industry successfully launch into farm ownership.

The three winners will receive a stellar prize package including:

Up to $1 million of ASB Business Term Lending fixed at 1% per annum for three years
$20,000 of Farm Source account credit to invest in their first farm
A tailored package from Fonterra to enable their transition into farm ownership including mentoring, enhanced support and special offers

ASB’s lending criteria, terms and fees apply. Lending must be used exclusively for purchasing a first farm. NZDIA and Fonterra / Farm Source terms and conditions apply.

See more about the Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award

Am I eligible?

You are eligible if you are not a farm owner and have not previously owned a farm before
You are eligible if you are a previous entrant of the SFOTY category OR you are a DMOTY entrant who is no longer eligible for SFOTY equity

Award Categories

Are you an up-and-coming dairy farmer aged 18-30 currently employed on a dairy farm full-time? The Dairy Trainee of the Year is a great way to learn and grow.

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If you're currently employed on a dairy farm full-time and looking to boost your career, you could be eligible for the Dairy Manager of the Year.

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Are you a self-employed, passionate farmer looking to improve your business and create future opportunities?

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The Responsible Dairying award recognises leadership and innovation. Please nominate farmers or farm businesses doing great work in the space so they can be recognised for their contribution.

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The ASB Alumni of the Year Award recognises previous NZDIA award winners and entrants who have progressed to farm ownership or more than 50% equity in a farm business.

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An exciting new initiative for first-time farm buyers, the Fonterra & ASB First Farm Award aims to remove barriers to farm ownership by offering financial backing, mentorship, and industry support.

Learn more

Why enter the
NZ Dairy Industry Awards?

Learn.Connect.Grow.

Accelerate your learning and development, challenge yourself, raise the bar and climb your career ladder.

Stand out

Stand out from the herd, showcase your skills and turn your passion and drive into something that sets you apart.

Be rewarded

Improve your prospects and grow your skills. Be rewarded for your hard work with prize money, recognition and industry exposure.

"We recently hired Photo Bloom to take photos for our wedding. We were was so impressed with their work! They were professional, creative, and responsive to my needs. The photos they took were absolutely stunning, and we couldn't be happier with the results."

Mr & Mrs Miller

"My future farming goals are to continue working in the industry, encouraging other people to join and set an example for future generations who are thinking of joining"

Emma Udell
2021 Auckland/Hauraki Dairy Trainee of the Year

"You have to make farming desirable and do things for yourself 'outside the wire' and the more you take care of your personal life and have fun, the more enjoyable the job is."

Sam Dodd
2022 Waikato Dairy Manager of the Year

"We want to run our own farm in the future and while we have plans for that you have to be flexible enough and be ready for opportunities. "

Jonathan & Stacey Hoets
2022 Canterbury/North Otago Share Farmer of the Year

Driving best practice and improving dairying tomorrow

With a proud 34-year track record, the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards celebrate the best in the New Zealand Dairy Industry. Driving best practice and improving dairying tomorrow, the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards runs a programme of over 60 events directly involving over 6000 people ranging from dairy farmers to rural professionals, rural businesses, and the wider rural communities. Entrants have the chance to challenge themselves, earn a regional or national title and share in substantial regional and national prize pools.

FIND YOUR REGION