On the hunt for great farm yarns

Rural Women New Zealand is inviting people to get creative by writing short stories and taking photos and videos to showcase New Zealand farming life today.

‘‘We are running the competition in conjunction with the Ministry for Primary Industries to tell the stories behind the primary products we grow on our farms,’’ Rural Women national president Wendy McGowan said.

The ministry will use some of the photos, videos and stories to promote the New Zealand primary industry brand and its rural values. ‘‘We encourage people to get their creative juices flowing to share the challenges and triumphs of farming and today’s sustainable business practices,’’ McGowan said. ‘‘We hope to see entries that reflect our care of the land and our animals, and the skills and ingenuity of the people that make New Zealand’s primary industries so successful.’’

Rural Women NZ also hopes the competition will highlight the opportunities for great careers in the sector.

The competition is being run as part of Rural Women NZ’s celebrations to mark the 2014 International Year of Family Farming. ‘‘Stories are powerful, and we have some great farming stories to tell,’’ McGowan said.

There are five entry categories: Women and men at work on the farm; farm machinery and farm innovation; animals; children; rural communities.

Entries close November 1 and the competition is open to everyone. Entry forms and further information can be found at www.ruralwomen.org.nz/iyff.