Tīrau builder wins young farmer award
A 30-year-old Tīrau builder has nailed Waikato’s Young Farmer of the Year title.
Dennis Main grew up on a dairy and drystock farm in Tīrau which he ran for his family in his twenties. He is a builder now and was not expecting to win.
“The agri-sports was my favourite. It was based on time and ability. We had to untangle a fire hose, fix a puncture in a tyre and put a milking cluster together. Then we had to cut a log in half and split it with an axe.”
The Waikato, Bay of Plenty FMG Young Farmer of the Year regional final was held April 5-6 at Kerepehi Domain, Hauraki Plains this year. Challenges included seed identification, fencing and stacking hay bales with a tractor.
Event convener Kendal Buchanan said Main’s attention to detail and precision helped him win.
“He had a consistent and calm approach enabling him to problem solve effectively and achieve high quality results. He has broad range of understanding coming from his previous experience in engineering and farming combined with his current building work.”
After the regional Main will battle it out at the national grand final in July.
“I didn’t know what to expect, so to come away with the win was a real surprise,” said Main.
This was Main’s first time competing in the contest, after being an active member of Piarere Young Farmers for the past couple of years.
“A few of my mates from the club were entering this year, so I thought I should give it a crack and see what happens.”
Buchanan said the competition is open for non-farmers as well as farmers.
“It’s about bringing like-minded people together in rural communities, about connecting people and making friendships which means everyone on farm and off.”
Crowd favourite Robin Buser believes the annual competition is one of the backbones of the NZ Young Farmers club.
A 29-year-old, ex-marketing executive turned Morrinsville dairy farmer, Buser has been farming for four seasons and said at this point in his career his focus is learning.
“I was aware I hadn’t been in the industry as long as other people so I joined the young farmers club before I even started.
“You learn stuff on farm naturally so it’s cool having the event as an outlet to push yourself. I found the tractor and the motorbike the easiest but I thought I would be quicker with the fencing.”
Buser said people questioned him when he made the shift from marketing to farming, however he has no regrets.
“I have found a career I’m going to be in forever. My son is growing up on a farm now, it’s a whole different lifestyle.
“Farming is tangible and satisfying because you can see the results of your work. In an office job sometimes you ask yourself, did I do anything today?
“Everything to do with farming is actually fun when you break it down”.
Courtney and Brad Edwards are share milkers of 25 cows in Ngatea. She and their two boys enjoyed watching from the foggy sidelines on Friday morning.
“Brad competed a few times at high school,” said Courtney. “He’s so excited about today because farming is his passion. He’ll enjoy the tractor and the fencing.”
“Dad is good at stacking hay bales,” said four-year-old Arthur Edwards.