Message from the 2026 Event Chair, Tom Chapman

“The best investment you can make, is an investment in yourself.” - Warren Buffet. The words of the world’s most successful investor Warren Buffet resonate me with me as chair of the 2026 South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) Committee. SIDE is a place where farmers come together to network, share knowledge and create long-term value through personal growth.

It is an exciting time for our industry a record Farm Gate Milk Price last season & a strong positive outlook for the foreseeable future are driving an appetite for land use change with improved environmental outcomes. We will always face challenges both now & into the future. How we innovate, adapt & evolve to manage these challenges will define our success.

The 2026 SIDE event committee is privileged to be holding the event at Lincoln University, a cornerstone of agricultural learning in the South Island. We have chosen the theme of “Turn Knowledge into Value” and are working hard to put together a range of workshops aiming to inspire the next generation of leaders. I am excited to hear from our fantastic line-up of industry leading farmers & scientists along with keynote speakers, Zion Armstrong, Cameron Bagrie, Dr John Roche & MC Julia Jones.

SIDE was founded on the commitment of people; this has continued over the past 27 years, aiding in the development of dairy farming in the South Island as we know it today. Our industry is New Zealand’s largest exporter generating around 23 billion dollars of revenue annually. People are critical to its long-term success, and we must continue to invest in them and grow them. Deciding to attend SIDE 2026 is an investment in yourself, one I hope you will find truly rewarding. I look forward to seeing you all at the event, to learn, network & unwind.

Tom Chapman, 2026 Event Chair, and Contract Milker from Mayfield