Bachelors’ romance in town

A bunch of single blokes are heading to Hamilton looking to win hearts, and gumboots.

Waikato’s own Kenneth Veen is one of eight strapping lads competing for the Fieldays top honour.

The title of Rural Bachelor of the Year comes with a prize pack worth over $20,000 and a chance at finding love.

The bachelors will have their skills, attitude and all-round charisma tested in a number of competitive challenges, from physical strength and fitness to fencing, cooking and dog handling.

The challenges are largely agricultural-based but will have a few twists thrown in to test the character of these rural men.

Veen has spent most of his life on his parents dairy farm, near Pirongia. But the humble farmer says he still has a lot to learn.

He’s hoping the competition will help up his skills.

‘‘I’m always happy and never give up, that’s probably my main farming skill, but it’s not actually a farming skill, I just go and have fun.’’

He doesn’t mind missing out on the golden gumboot, he’d be more stoked to get a girl instead. His ideal date would be going for a wal up Mt Pirongia having ‘‘a good old chat’’ on the way.

‘‘I'm always happy and never give up, that's probably my main farming skill, but it's not actually a farming skill, I just go and have fun.’’