Girls advance in rural teen contest
Forest View High School students Rachel Durie and Caitlin Bridson are showing the boys how it’s done.
The pair performed well at the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Teenage Competition over the weekend at St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton to advance to the national stage of the competition.
This event was held in conjunction with the ANZ Young Farmer Contest, and is organised by the Young Farmers Club.
The competition also saw Campbell Evans and Ngahihi Te Paea, also from Forest View High School, compete in the fencing challenge to a high level. The event involved demonstrating a variety of skills and knowledge.
Contestants had to take part in a general knowledge quiz, identify sheep and cattle breeds, complete a fencing task, identify animal body parts, complete a firearms quiz, match crop plants and their seeds, assemble a raft and float it and do a teamwork trust exercise.
Seven teams were then selected to go on to the Agrisports section which focussed on practical skills and teamwork.
Forest View High School teacher Mary-Ann Mathis said that Rachel and Caitlin did very well in this section.
‘‘Standing up in strong competition with agricultural students from across the region has been a great experience.’’
A wide range of practical skills, farm and general knowledge was covered in a short time and kept contestants working.
The New Zealand Young Farmers organisation is working hard to promote farming and involvement in the organisation and is actively working with primary and secondary students across the country.