Oamaru man Aorangi Young Farmer
An Oamaru agricultural consultant has been named the Aorangi Young Farmer of the Year.
Alan Harvey, 27, took out the title after winning the regional final in his home town on Saturday night.
The event saw seven finalists tackle modules including an agriknowledge quiz. Harvey said it had been an ‘‘amazing’’ journey.
"I’ve had a massive support team behind me,’’ he said. ‘‘The other contestants put up a tough challenge.’’
Harvey’s win saw him take home $12,000 worth of prizes. His win secured him a spot in the Young Farmer of the Year grand final in Hawke’s Bay in July.
Meanwhile, Geraldine High School cleaned up in the Aorangi Junior Young Farmer of the Year regional final – with students nabbing first, second and third place.
About 80 secondary school students from across the Aorangi region worked in pairs to tackle a range of challenges. The modules tested students’ practical and theoretical skills.
Geraldine High’s Jacob Price and Patrick Foley-Smith, both 17, won the event at the Oamaru A&P Showgrounds on Saturday after placing third last year.
Ben Chambers, 17, and 16-yearold Taylor Bird placed second while Jason Harford and Archie Chisholm took out third.
The top two teams also qualified for the grand final in Hawke’s Bay. Patrick said it was exciting to win the event.
‘‘I’m pretty nervous to be heading to the grand final,’’ he said. ‘‘I think because we’d done it before we had the experience so we just carried things on.’’