News » Contest week is here!
News » Contest week is here!
The biggest week of the year is underway as all roads lead to the Manawatu for the Grand Final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.
Beginning on Thursday at Massey University for the private technical day, the seven grand finalists from all around New Zealand will begin an arduous three days of fierce battles in order to be named New Zealand’s top Young Farmer.
The finalists include Lisa Kendall, from the Northern region, who is only the fourth female to compete at a Grand Final. She will be joined by Richard French from the Waikato/Bay of Plenty region, James Lawn from Taranaki/Manawatu, Hamish Best from the East Coast, Andrew Wiffen from Tasman, Arjan van’t Klooster from Aorangi and Nigel Woodhead from Otago/Southland.
On Friday, the contestants will battle exhaustion as well as each other in the gruelling practical day, which includes the Hynds Agri-sports Challenge where contestants race side by side in an Olympic worthy crowd drawing duel.
The Friday will also feature the first ever Trans-Tasman Olympic Ag Battle with current FMG Young Farmer of the Year Athol New taking on the might of Australia with Tasmanian Young Farmer of the Year Marty McConnon.
The pair will do a number of challenges side by side in a nail biting contest to see who is going to be named the Trans-Tasman champion for 2017!
Con-currently, the AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg Grand Finals will take place with primary and secondary school teams from around New Zealand duking it out to take back to their school the coveted titles.
In another exciting development this year, the Contest will-be-featured in an online platform through the NZ Young Farmers You Tube channel and on the Contest Facebook page. For the first time views will be able to see a mixture of livestream and pre-recorded clips as the Contest progresses.
It will also be featured on Country TV on Thursday 13th July at 7.30pm.
FMG Young Farmer of the Year Contest Chairman and former Grand Finalist Dean Rabbidge said this year’s contest marked a new direction and it would be an exciting experience not only for those attending, but for those watching at home as well.
“There will be something for everyone, including those in urban areas. As well as showcasing excellence in the agri sector, this year’s Contest will reach out to all New Zealanders and allow them to see the mana in which this competition is held.”
How the FMG Young Farmer of the Year works:
400 contestants competed in 22 District Contest and Skills Day nation-wide where they can opt to 'Have a Go' which means they cannot progress to the next level – or they can enter competitively.
56 contestants compete in seven regional finals from Northern, Waikato-Bay of Plenty, Taranaki-Manawatu, East Coast, Tasman, Aorangi, Otago-Southland from February to April.
The seven winners of the regional final will now compete at the Grand Final in the Manawatu this week.
In 49 years only four females have ever made the Grand Final:
Denise Brown who placed Seventh in 1981
Louise Collingwood who was Placed Third and Runner Up in 2001 and 2003
Katherine Tucker placed Seventh in 2012
Lisa Kendall in 2017
For more information, please call NZ Young Farmers Communication Manager Nadine Porter on 0212140703 or email nadine.porter@youngfarmers.co.nz