Southern dairy farmers scooped the major prizes at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards at the weekend, with South Otago's Blake Korteweg named trainee of the year and Stefan and Annalize du Plessis, of Southland, sharemilkers of the year.
Mr Korteweg (26) works on his parents' 175ha farm at Stirling, milking 560 cows.
He will shift next season to be a contract milker.
Judges said Mr Korteweg's strength of communication and community spirit would make him an ambassador for the industry, that strength and maturity stemming from a stint overseas and also the discipline of completing a building apprenticeship.
Mr and Mrs du Plessis arrived in New Zealand from South Africa with nothing, and are now recognised as the country's top sharemilkers.
They milk 650 cows on a 240ha farm at Dipton.
The du Plessis are 50:50 sharemilkers in Mosa Farming Ltd, a company they formed with Owen and Margaret Westlake.
They own 40% of Mosa Farming, but have a goal of owning all the business.
In addition, Mrs du Plessis runs a recruitment business and, in partnership with a friend, has started a cleaning business.
Judges commented that the du Plessis' pasture management was a strength, along with their relationship with their staff and the farm owners.
South Islanders dominated the competition.
Ashburton sharemilkers Jeremy and Rebecca Duckmanton were second in the sharemilker of year award, Ashburton equity managers Hamish and Natalie Davidson were second to Monty Monteith, of Takapau, in the farm manager of the year award, while Andrea Harvey, of Blenheim, and Angus Thomas, of Rakaia, were second and third respectively to Mr Korteweg in the farm trainee of the year.