Outram manager Peter Johnstone won the Otago Farm Manager of the Year title.
The Sutherlands' move from the Waikato to South Otago paid off when they achieved their goal of farm ownership last season, while retaining their 50% sharemilking position, milking 800 cows for Grant Paterson at Milton, to help cash flows.
"We have sacrificed social time to get ahead, but now with young children, this is changing, as we want to enjoy them and we have also achieved some of our goals," Mr Sutherland said.
The couple won $13,850 in cash and prizes.
Outram sharemilkers Paul and Rochelle Urquhart were runners-up, pocketing $10,300 in cash and prizes.
Meanwhile, Mr Johnstone, who manages a 310-cow farm owned by Shane and Noeleen Hildred, recently secured a sharemilking position for the coming season after just four years in the dairy industry.
He said he entered the competition for the first time as a challenge, to see where improvements could be made on-farm, and to test himself against other managers. For his efforts, he won $6800 in cash and prizes.
Clinton farm managers Alasdair and Bobbi Brown were runners-up.
The other major award of the night went to Otago dairy trainee of the year, Anthony Bishell (23), who is second in charge on a 620-cow farm at Mosgiel.
All three winners will now compete for their respective national titles and a prize pool of more than $100,000 in Wellington on May 16.
The Sutherlands will host a field day on their property on April 9, while Mr Johnstone will host a similar event on April 14.
Other awards.- Sharemilker merit awards: Husbandry award, Grant and Chrissy Harrison. Safety award, Paul and Rochelle Urquhart. First-time entrant award: Matthew and Hannah Sutherland. Dairy hygiene: Paul and Rochelle Urquhart. Leadership award: Jock Saunder and Kristel Mack. Recording and productivity: Paul and Rochelle Urquhart. Farm environment: Paul and Rochelle Urquhart. Pasture performance: Matthew and Hannah Sutherland. Business performance award: Matthew and Hannah Sutherland. Farm manager merit awards: Resource management, Peter Johnstone. Farm management: Cassandra Stevens. Financial and planning: Peter Johnstone.
