Tokonui pupils do it for fun – but keep winning
A team from Tokonui has again tasted success at the OtagoSouthland Agrikids regional final.
At the Otago-southland Agrikids regional final in Balclutha on Sunday, children from across the region competed in agricultural tasks and problem-solving.
The Tokanui Redbands team, made up of Prue Buckingham, 11, Lachlan Crosbie, 12, and Jessica Dermody, 12, took out the regional competition and will compete for the top spot in the grand final against the top three teams from all seven regions in Dunedin in May.
Team manager Judy Buckingham said it was the third time a team from Tokonui had reached the final and one team even won two years ago.
The team makeup was different each year and no pressure was put on the children. It was all about fun, she said.
‘‘We just hope they go and have fun and learn from the experience – the kids get real excited and the parents get excited,’’ she said.
Sunday’s competition included events such as putting up an electric fence, general knowledge, geography and basic maintenance of a motorbike, she said.
Mrs Buckingham said she was unsure how the team would fare at the finals but results did not matter because the children did it for the enjoyment.
‘‘It is a bit of prestige at school to go and do that sort of thing.’’
The final will be held at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on May 25 to coincide with the Young Farmer of the Year competition, which is being held on the same weekend.