Dannevirke couple win share farmer title

9:23 am on 16 May 2016

Mark and Jaime Arnold from Dannevirke have taken out the 2016 Share Farmer of the Year title at the Dairy Industry Awards.

The 2016 Share Farmer of the Year title went to Mark and Jaime Arnold from Dannevirke. Photo: SUPPLIED

The Dairy Industry Awards in Wellington at the TSB Arena. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook

NZ Dairy Manager of the Year - Thomas Chatfield. Photo: SUPPLIED

NZ Dairy Trainee of the Year - Nicholas Bailey. Photo: SUPPLIED

Winners Nicholas Bailey, Jaime and Mark Arnold and Thomas Chatfield. Photo: SUPPLIED

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Thomas Chatfield from Whakatane won the 2016 Dairy Manager of the Year and Nicholas Bailey from the Wairarapa won the 2016 Dairy Trainee of the Year.

About $170,000 worth of prizes was given out at the awards, which were held in Wellington at the TSB Arena on Saturday night.

The Arnold's are 50:50 sharemilking 500 cows for Mike and Sherynn Harold and Stuart and Sandra Cordell in Dannevirke and walked away from the awards with over $52,000 in prizes and the national title.

The couple said the awards had been such a positive experience.

"We haven't got dairy farming backgrounds and it's amazing how we've grown, just from hard work and learning, it's an amazing industry," Mark Arnold said.

"Being down here in Wellington has been just so positive, he said.

Jaime Arnold said this season has been a challenge, but they had the right farming systems in place for the tough times.

"We're actually running a business that's really resilient, so on a $4.00 payout we're surviving and on a $5.00 plus payout we're really thriving, it's all about being resilient - it's grass and money this year, that's our focus," she said.

Mark and Jaime Arnold said they have had to work hard as a family this season with the low payout, but were planning on going on holiday with their two children to celebrate their big win.