Zimbabwe dairy legend Christopher “Stoff” Hawgood receives 2025 ZADF Oscar award

The Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF) has honoured Stoff Hawgood with the prestigious 2025 Dairy Oscar Award for his exceptional contribution to Zimbabwe's dairy industry.

The award was presented during ZADF's Annual General Meeting in Beatrice, where Hawgood's remarkable journey from farm birth to industry leadership was celebrated by dairy stakeholders from across the country.

A legacy rooted in Beatrice

Hawgood's connection to Zimbabwe's dairy industry began before his birth. His grandfather, a water engineer and businessman, purchased the family farm in Beatrice in 1955. While one of his grandfather's sons focused on cropping, the other established the dairy operation that would become the foundation of Hawgood's future success.

Raised on the Beatrice farm, Hawgood pursued his education locally before earning an Honours Degree in Agricultural Management. He fully took charge of the family farm in 1991, and when his uncle left the operation in 1994, Hawgood inherited the dairy enterprise, which he has since transformed into one of Zimbabwe's leading milk production facilities.

Industry champion and top producer

Over the decades, Hawgood has produced hundreds of millions of litres of milk, contributing significantly to feeding the nation. Today, his operation produces over 7 million litres of milk annually, accounting for more than six percent of Zimbabwe's national milk production. This achievement has kept him among the country's top five milk producers for years.

His excellence has been recognised through numerous awards, including Dairy Farmer of the Year and Best of the Best in dairy, among other accolades.

Leadership beyond the farm gate

Hawgood's impact extends far beyond his own dairy operation. He served several years with the dairy farmers association, including a tenure as National Chairman, where he dedicated himself to encouraging fellow dairy farmers through various industry challenges.

During his chairmanship, he represented Zimbabwe's dairy farmers at the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit and various regional and international platforms. His belief in stakeholder engagement has been credited with helping the survival and rebuilding of Zimbabwe's dairy industry through initiated dialogue between dairy farmers, government officials, processors, and other industry stakeholders.

Institutional leadership roles

Since 2006, Hawgood has served on the board of the National Dairy Corporation (NDC), the farmer cooperative responsible for farm milk chilling tanks and transportation from farm to factory. He has chaired NDC since 2008, ensuring the maintenance of the cold chain for what he calls the "highly perishable white gold."

In 2018, he joined the board of Stock Exchange-listed dairy processor Dairibord to provide the farmers' perspective, also serving as Chairman of the Milk Supply Development Unit.

Championing indigenous farmers

Passionate about seeing indigenous dairy farmers participate in the industry, Hawgood championed engagement with Farm Friends, a Dutch-based organisation, in 2019. This initiative has resulted in the distribution of 130 in-calf heifers to 49 farmers and has provided 20 farmers with one-hectare irrigation systems for pasture production, demonstrating his understanding that feed and fodder production is crucial for Zimbabwe's dairy sustainability.

Family legacy and succession

Hawgood is married to Christine, whom colleagues describe as his "amazing support system" in building the dairy industry. The couple has two children: daughter Emily, an ultra-trail elite athlete who competes in 100km and 100-mile (160km) distances, and son Jack.

In a move that demonstrates his commitment to effective succession planning, Hawgood and his wife have recently handed over the day-to-day running of their dairy farming business to Jack, who is growing the operation under their advisory capacity.

Industry recognition

ZADF's executive board selected Hawgood for the 2025 Oscar Award to recognise his valuable contribution to the dairy industry and celebrate him as a true dairy legend. The award continues ZADF's annual tradition of honouring outstanding individuals who have made exceptional contributions to Zimbabwe's dairy sector.

The stakeholder engagement strategy that Hawgood pioneered continues to serve as the foundation for ZADF's existence and approach, including the organisation’s AGM format, which demonstrates the collaborative approach needed to build a sustainable and viable dairy industry in Zimbabwe.