NATIONAL Herd Development (NHD) south-west sales representative and breeding advisor, Dylan Jewell from Hawkesdale, has been recognised by the National Herd Improvement Association of Australia (NHIA), winning the Young Achiever Award and claiming $2500 in prize money.

The 30-year-old was nominated by NHD marketing manager, Christian Hickey, and was presented with the award following the NHIA annual general meeting held in Camperdown last Wednesday evening.

“I think it’s really important that the herd improvement industry invests in young people and focuses on encouraging and bringing the next generation through,” Mr Jewell said.

“It’s an honour to be recognised by the industry, particularly by people who have been around for a long time.

“I couldn’t be happier.”

National Herd Development artificial breeding and stock services supervisor, Maree Condon, presented Mr Jewell with the award and said his passion for the breeding side of the industry and doing the right thing by his customers were two standout qualities that led to him being nominated.

“Dylan was a town boy with a love of animals who took an agricultural course and led him to the dairying side of the industry and artificial insemination (AI),” she said.

“He’s a great example to other young people coming up through the industry.”

Mr Jewell started working at National Herd Development in 2018 and has focused on the sales side of the business most recently.

A typical workday for Mr Jewell includes a lot of time on farm, evaluating people’s herds for mating programs, artificial insemination and even taking blood serums from cows.

Mr Jewell said he would use the prize money to further develop his management skills.

“I know I’m working in the right industry and I’m here for the long haul,” he said.

“I might be a young achiever but I’m also getting older so a management course should help set me up for the next stage of my career.

“When I first got interested in dairying and the industry, it was a teacher at my high school who encouraged me to stick at it and I went from milking to showing at the Melbourne Royal and then getting interested in genetics.

“If you’ve got a passion for cows, the HI (herd improvement) industry is a great place to build a career.”

NHIA chief executive, Sara Merckel, said “it’s a tremendous initiative that NHIA has developed this award for young people who are building a long-term career in our industry and stand out due to their work ethic, commitment and achievements”.

“Looking forward to the future is key to the success of the herd improvement sector and I encourage people in our industry to think who in their team deserves this recognition and ensure they are nominated.”

NHIA was formed in 1995 as the successor to the Herd Improvement Organisation of Victoria and promotes herd improvement within the Australian dairy industry by providing a range of services to its membership.

The member base includes organisations involved directly in the provision of herd improvement services, and a range of activities that lead to productivity gains to farmers as well as herd industry improvement suppliers.

NHIA’s Young Achiever Award nominations for this year close on November 30, 2022.

Further information is available at nhia.org.au/nhia-awards