Last Grand Finalist named in 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest

Posted by on 20 April 2015 | Comments

LAST GRAND FINALIST CONFIRMED IN ANZ YOUNG FARMER CONTEST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 20-04-2015

Douglas McGregor is the seventh Grand Finalist to be named in the 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest.

The thirty year old dairy farmer took first place at the Northern Regional Final in Dargaville on Saturday 18 April after a very tense and closely scored competition.

Mr McGregor went home with a prize pack worth over $10,000 including cash, scholarships and products and services from ANZ, FMG, Lincoln University, Ravensdown, AGMARDT, Silver Fern Farms, Honda, Husqvarna and Vodafone.
This was Douglas’s second attempt at Regional Final level of the ANZ Young Farmer Contest. Douglas is a very active member of the Bay of Island Young Farmers Club and also plays the bagpipes for the Manawatu Scottish pipe band in his spare time. Douglas was competing against 26 year old Anna Simpson, who doubles as the winner’s partner.

Mr McGregor is off to the Grand Final in Taupo, 2 – 4 July where he will battle it out for the Champion’s title and more than $270,000 in prizes.

The Northern Regional Final featured a strong group of contestants with plenty of knowledge and talent on display. The eight contestants were put through their paces in a variety of challenging modules touching on all aspects of farming from practical hands-on tasks to theory and business components.

Second place went to 28 year old Operations Manager, Guy Bakewell, of the Kaipara Young Farmers Club. He took home $2,900 worth of prizes. Mr Bakewell also took home top honours in both the Lincoln University Agri-Growth Challenge and the Ravensdown Agri-Skills Challenge.
Third place went to Whangarei Young Farmers Club member, Jake Thomson (26). Jake won the AGMARDT Agri-Business Challenge. Fourth place went to Colin Beazley (28) from the Kaipara Young Farmers Club – Colin was called up to compete a week before the Regional Final after one Contestant broke his collarbone. 
The Silver Fern Farms Agri-Sports Challenge winner was 26 year old Kelvin Meek of the Franklin Young Farmers Club.

Douglas McGregor is the last Grand Finalist to be named for the 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest. He will join six Contestants from around the country in Taupo 2 – 4 July at Grand Final in a bid to take home the title of 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest Grand Champion.

For more information visit www.youngfarmers.co.nz

ENDS

Or contact:
Olivia Sanders
New Zealand Young Farmers National Communications Coordinator
021 214 0703
olivia.sanders@youngfarmers.co.nz