The achievements of New Zealand’s leading Holstein Friesian breeders, cattle and young members were recognised at the 2026 Holstein Friesian NZ Awards, held in Auckland last night as part of the 2026 HFNZ AGM and Conference.
Almost 100 breeders, sponsors and supporters came together to celebrate excellence across the breed, with awards recognising outstanding performance in production, breeding, youth development, photography and the showring.
Taking out the prestigious 2026 Valden Cow of the Year title was Charbelle Tatoo Pix EX95 E2, owned by Sherborne Farms (Annabelle and Stephen Scherer, Dyanne and Wayne Osborne).
Selected from a field of six finalists, the 2019-born cow was recognised for her ongoing contribution to the Holstein Friesian breed and her sustained impact over time.
Annabelle Scherer said the win felt “unreal”.
“I just can’t believe it,” Annabelle Scherer said. “We’re in total shock. Of all the accolades Pix has won, this one is really, really special. It means a lot.”
The 2026 Mahoe Trophy was awarded to Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, bred by Tony and Keri O’Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd, Timaru, with the sire accumulating 385 points to secure the title. The Mahoe Trophy honours the New Zealand-bred Holstein Friesian sire whose April 2026 AE sire proof achieves the highest points across production, conformation, management and daughter performance traits.
In the 2026 HFNZ–Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Progeny Competition, Gordon Fullerton of Full-On Farming Ltd, Hinds, claimed the junior team title with Sandy-Valley Icarus-ET on 247.28 points. The senior team section was won by Craig and Chantelle Rowe of Maire Farms Ltd, whose team, headed by Westcoast Alcove, scored 377.67 points. The competition recognises the junior and senior progeny teams achieving the highest classification points from the 2025/26 season’s inspections, incorporating production worth, protein breeding values, udder overall scores and final classification scores.
The 2026 Nutritech Performance Award went to CView Trust (Stefan Buehler, Hawera) with a winning herd average value of $8,099.26. Presented annually to the herd owner with the highest dollar-earning herd average in their region, the award is calculated using the Fonterra A+B-C payment system from the 2024/25 season.
Young members were also recognised for their achievements in the Black & White Youth Awards. Gabrielle Scherer of Morrinsville received the Kingsland Trophy after accumulating the highest points for a Senior member in the 2026 All NZ Calf Class Competition, as well as securing the overall title in that competition.
Lucy O’Reilly of Tirau enjoyed another successful year, winning the 2026 Pitcairns Trophy as the highest-scoring participant at an official Holstein Friesian NZ Judging School. She also claimed the 2026 Aitken Family Senior Youth Heifer Competition with Charbelle Parfect Macy VG85, scoring 144 points, and the Senior section of the 2025 Black & White Youth Photo Competition.
Charlie James of Palmerston North won the Junior section in the competition, where entries were judged on calf conformation, background, animal presentation and handler presentation.
The evening also provided an opportunity to acknowledge long-term service to the breed. Alex and Narda Harvey of Crossroads Holsteins, Dargaville, received a Distinguished Service Award in recognition of their dedication, leadership and lasting contribution to the Holstein Friesian community.
David and Wendy Harker of Westell Properties, Te Awamutu, also received a Distinguished Service Award for their outstanding contribution to the Holstein Friesian breed.
2026 HOLSTEIN FRIESIAN NZ AWARDS RESULTS
BLACK & WHITE YOUTH AWARDS
- Kingsland Trophy: Gabrielle Scherer, Morrinsville
- All NZ Calf Class Competition: Gabrielle Scherer, Morrinsville
- Paramount Cup: Holly Williams, Palmerston North
- Dennis Terry Memorial Trophy: Phoebe Calvert, Tasmania
- McDonald Family Trophy: Sienna Bourke, Opunake
- Top Junior Handler: Adam Watson, Te Awamutu
- Top Senior Handler: Sienna Bourke, Opunake
- Pitcairns Trophy: Lucy O’Reilly, Tirau
- Frank Pfister Award: Riley Taylor, Opunake
- Black & White Youth Photo Competition – Junior: Charlie James, Palmerston North
- Black & White Youth Photo Competition – Senior: Lucy O’Reilly, Tirau
- Aitken Family Senior Youth Heifer Competition: Lucy O’Reilly, Tirau with Charbelle Parfect Macy VG85
PRODUCTION AWARDS
- Boehringer Ingelheim Progeny Competition Senior Team: Full-On Farming Ltd, Hinds with Sandy-Valley Icarus-ET
- Boehringer Ingelheim Progeny Competition Junior Team: Maire Farms Ltd, Palmerston North with Westcoast Alcove
- Valden Cow of the Year: Charbelle Tatoo Pix EX95 E2, Sherborne Farms, Morrinsville
- Mahoe Trophy: Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd, Tony and Keri O’Connor, Timaru
Overall Nutritech Performance Award: CView Trust, Stefan Buehler, Hawera, $8,099.26 - Snowline Trophy: Toi Toi Snow Alicia-ET EX2 (Kapukapu Ltd, Rotorua) with $9,782.76
- World Wide Sires Protein Awards: Overall winner Penoak Beam Mandy S2F, CView Trust (Stefan Buehler, Hawera) with 523kg protein
- Tokaora Trophy: Paragon Alcove Piper S0F VG87 (Bishopdale Farm, Ashburton) with 172 points
- Sherriff Memorial Trophy: Full-On Farming Ltd (Gordon Fullerton, Full-On Farming Ltd) with an average score of 83.66
- Withers Trophy: Waikopani Lucid Herzerl S1F GP83 (Waikopani Holdings Ltd, Whangarei)
SHOW AND PHOTO COMPETITION AWARDS
- Lenslea Trophy: Patrick Aitken, Christchurch
North Island Junior Champion: Charbelle Hero PeeJay S3F – Charbelle Holsteins, Morrinsville - North Island Supreme Champion: Charbelle Tatoo Pix EX95 E2 – Charbelle Holsteins, Morrinsville
South Island Junior Champion: Lowburn D Mogul Pippa S3F – K Simmons, Invercargill - South Island Supreme Champion: Rosedene Barolo Azzy VG87 – Rosedene Ltd, Stirling
- North Island Royal Junior Champion: Bradnic Imp Louka S0F – Johnson & Parkes, Hawera
- North Island Royal Supreme Champion: Y-Not Sidekick Renae 1-ET EX90 – T & S Jenkins, Huntly
- South Island Royal Junior Champion: Busybrook D-Lambda Vibes-ET – Busybrook/Tuhinga/Full-On/Emery Partnership, Oamaru
- South Island Royal Supreme Champion: Belbrook Stoplight Esther-Red EX93 – Belbrook Holsteins, Rangiora
- NZ DairyEvent Junior Champion: Raetea Havenofear Like – Raetea Holsteins, Rotorua
- NZ DairyEvent Supreme Champion: Glenalla Unix Maple-ET EX94 – Gilbert Family, Rakaia
- Promotional Photo Competition: Sue Pembridge, Matamata
- DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition Class 1: Charbelle Tatoo Pix EX95 E2 – Sherborne Farms Ltd, Morrinsville
- DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition Class 2: Belbrook Ferraro Jess VG88 – Belbrook Farming Ltd, Rangiora
- DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition Class 3: Joyclas Bullseye Moo-ET VG86 – Glenalla Farm Limited, Rakaia
- DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition Class 4: Te Hau Bullseye Coral S3F – Te Hau Holsteins, Morrinsville
- DeLaval All NZ Photo Competition Class 5: Finally Bullseye Leigh – Young/O’Reilly Partnership, Te Awamutu
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS
- Alex and Narda Harvey (A & N Harvey Family Trust, Dargaville)
- David and Wendy Harker (Westell Properties, Te Awamutu)
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