Tough young farmer finals
The nation’s top young farmer will be found when seven contestants battle for the title next month. Before the eventual winner of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year is unveiled they have to prove themselves to be a dab hand at speeches, rural quizzes and practical farming.
The final will be in Manawatu from July 6-8.
A field of seven finalists from Northern, Waikato/bay of Plenty, Taranaki/manawatu, East Coast, Tasman, Aorangi and Otago/ Southland areas will assemble for the competition.
The finalists were honed down from 56 contestants in regional finals.
Organisers say the contest portrays agriculture as a professional industry providing career opportunities and remains the cornerstone of the nation’s economy.
The top seven will be put through a range of practical, theoretical and technical farming challenges.
Each level of the competition combines practical hands on agriculture skills and general knowledge.
The level of complexity and difficulty increases as the contestants progress from district to regional contests and finally to the grand final.
In the past they were required to put in a fence, cook, change a wheel and carve out a chainsaw sculpture.
Among this year’s finalists will be 24-year-old Karaka townie Lisa Kendall who is among the hot favourites to take the title.
She grew up on a lifestyle block and convincingly beat experienced
The contest portrays agriculture as a professional industry and remains the cornerstone of the nation's economy.
opposition at the Northern final.
Taranaki/manawatu representative James Lawn will compete alongside friends and former flatmates Richard French and Hamish Best. The dairy farmer has broad experience and has travelled extensively.
The Central Economic Development Agency, based in Palmerston North, estimates the competition will bring a million dollar benefit to the region and would showcase the North Island Agrihub.
For the first time in its history, the final would be available on multiple online platforms.
Since the early 1980s, the contest had been screened on television, but this year organisers want to embrace the growing online audience and move most of the content online.
All aspects of the Grand Final would be available on the NZ Young Farmers You Tube channel and the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Facebook page and there would be livestreaming of key events.
Contest chairperson Dean Rabbidge said the move away from television meant a growing freedom in what content could be shown.
‘‘The move online is very much about showcasing our industries, and the fantastic leaders in them. It is a positive step forward and one in which we believe will deliver great rewards for both New Zealand agriculture and the contest itself.’’
The first regional final was held in a small hall at the former Lincoln College and broadcast live on radio in 1969 and was won by Gary Frazer of Tasman with a first prize of a return airfare to Australia and $500 cash.
The event has grown and today contestants vie for more than $300,000 in prizes.