Contest returns to Southland

Last year Southland experienced the full excitement of The National Bank Young Farmer Contest when the Grand Final was held in Gore; it was made all the more exciting when young Peter Gardyne placed second - just behind eventual winner Grant McNaughton. No doubt this memory will be close in mind for spectators and Contestants as the action returns to Southland for the Otago/Southland Regional Final on April 9th.

There will be a few familiar faces in Winton at the Regional Final on Saturday as several Contestants return from the 2010 Regional Final.

28 year old Bruce Paterson is a sheep and deer farm owner from Otautau; he’ll be returning for a second go at Regional Final along with his fellow Nightcaps Club member Hayden Peter who placed third last year. Twenty eight year old Hayden is a stud stock manager in Winton.

From the Clinton Club is Craig Moffat, a 26 year old sheep farmer from Balclutha, he’s also returning from 2010 and brings a wealth of Contest experience to the Regional Final.

Tuatapere’s Nathan Parris, a 29 year old sheep farmer, also brings plenty of experience; having competed in five competitions during his seven years with New Zealand Young Farmers.

The rest of the Contestants are new to Regional Final this year but have all competed strongly at District Final level.

Reuben Hopcroft is competing in his first Regional Final at age 29; he farms alongside his parents in Riverton on a 260 hectare sheep and dairy grazing block and is a member of the Thornbury Club.

Also competing for the first time is Simon Paterson a 28 year old sheep and beef farmer who helped found the Maniototo Club in 2010. Another Contestant making his first outing at Regional Final is 26 year old sheep and beef farm manager Bevan Wilson from the Dunedin Club.
Finally the youngest in the field is 25 year old contract milker Steve Henderson from the Waitane Club.

The first hurdle for the Contestants is the Practical Day which runs from 8am at the Winton Racecourse. Contestants will be put through a variety of Challenges designed to test not only their practical farming skills but also their business skills and theoretical knowledge.

First up the Contestants will complete the AGMARDT Agri-business Challenge, a written exam that will test their theoretical business skills. The Ravendsown Agri-skills Challenge will take place throughout the morning; here contestants will complete eight 30 minute practical modules that will test the skills they possess and maybe some they don’t!

The Lincoln University Agri-growth Challenge also takes place in the morning – Contestants will have to face an interview panel made up of three judges. Finally the physical gut-buster that is the Isuzu Agri-sports Challenges will take place after lunch. Here the Contestants will race against each other to complete a series of agricultural tasks; speed however is not the only attribute judges will be looking for, quality is just as important too.

From there Contestants have a couple of hours to prepare a speech and get tidied up for the Evening Show at the Winton Memorial Hall from 7pm. Here the winners of the various Challenges will be announced and question buzzer rounds will give Contestants a chance to pick up more points before the Otago/Southland Regional Final winner is announced.

Not only will that winner gain a place at the Grand Final in Masterton from June 29th, but they will also take home a generous prize pack worth over $10,000. The pack includes a Honda XR125 two-wheeled farm bike valued at $4000, a $1500 Lincoln University Scholarship, $1000 cash and $500 towards a capability development programme from AGMARDT, a weekend hunting trip courtesy of Isuzu valued at $1000, Ravensdown quality fertiliser products worth $1000, a range of Swanndri clothing valued at $750 and The National Bank will provide $500 cash.
The Contestants will have the added pressure of being filmed for TVNZ 7’s Road to the Young Farmer Final, with the Otago/Southland episode being screened on June 18th. To lend a bit of encouragement to Contestants, supporters can head to www.goyoungfarmer.co.nz and leave a message of support for their favourite Contestant.

Over $20,000 has been raised at the last four Regional Finals for the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Fund. The Road to Recovery Auction will take place during the Evening Show; audience members will have the chance to bid on a two wheeler farm bike thanks to Honda, along with products from Ravensdown, Echo and The National Bank.