Young rural talent on showcase in Auckland

Posted by on 22 May 2013 | Comments

Young Farmers from across the country made the pilgrimage to Auckland for the 2013 TBfree New Zealand Young Farmers Conference this past week, 16-19 May.

The nautically themed CRV Ambreed Chairman’s Awards Dinner and Debating Competition was an opportunity to recognize Young Farmers members’ achievements. Awards were given for Best Event, Club Membership, Best Region, Best Club, and an award for Service to NZYF. In between all the awards there was also the annual Debating Competition. And, the National Competitions for Fencing, Stock Judging and Photography also took place during the week.

Aorangi’s Pendarves Club took home the Best Event Award for their After Harvest Party Ball. In its third year running 430 people came from across New Zealand and even some flew in from Australia. It took the committee six months of planning and fundraising to get things sorted. Funds raised went to St John’s, Westpac Helicopter and to help the Aorangi TeenAg Team get to Grand Final.

The Club Membership Award is given to the club that has increased its membership through the previous 12 months. It’s a 50/50 weighting based on membership retention and paid members. This year Tasman’s Waimakariri Club proved the best.

The Best Region award is given to one of the seven NZYF Regions for activity, dedication, organisation, participation and spirit; this year the honour went to the region that encompasses all these traits and more - Waikato/Bay of Plenty.

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty region saw another award go to the Reporora Club for Best Club. This honour is given to the club that has good attendance at meetings and regional events, is involved in their community and with other clubs, has a professional approach to the governance of their club and aren’t afraid to ask for help.   

Phil ‘Ludey’ Ludeman, long-time member of the Foothills Club in Aorangi, was recognized for his unwavering commitment and support for the Club and all its endeavours with the Service to Young Farmers Award. Phil is currently the club’s new member liaison and has been very involved in nearly every event the club has run and is the rock you can depend on to lend a helping hand where ever needed.

Emma Taylor and James Bryan, both of the Cambridge Club, took home the awards for the Male & Female NZYFSmall Bore Postal Shoot.

The Award’s Dinner was also the setting for the annual North Island vs South Island Debating Competition.

This year’s topic was “New Zealand’s Agriculture is ship shape”. The North Island was represented by Jason Te Brake, James Bryan, Pete Fitz-Herbert and from The South Island was Hamish Clarke, James Lawn and Cam Henderson. Both teams arguments' were well formulated, but, there can only be one winner; The North Island proved their speech skills and took home the coveted Debating Trophy.

Another highlight of the conference was the National Stock Judging, Fencing and Photography Competitions held alongside the Practical Day for the ANZ Young Farmer Contest Grand Final at Kumeu Showgrounds.

Congratulations to all those who competed.

In the Goldpine NZYF Fencing Competition Thomas Ottaway, Marton Club, & Simon Mathis, Massey Club, proved to be the champions this year followed by Dan Plowman & Dan Seed, both from Ballance Club in second and Simon Topham, Nightcaps Club, & James Lawn, Clinton Club, in third. 

The stock judging competition had a great turnout this year, with not so great weather! David Noble won Dairy Goats, Andrew Wiffen took the Dairy Section and was the overall winner, the Beef Section went to Kharlos Langman and Tom Heslop took home the awards for the Sheep Section.

In the National Photography Competition Kelsey Lee’s photos won the Landscape and People/Activities categories, James Rogers won the People/Animals category and Sebastian Jolly’s pictures took out the Black & White category and Overall Photo.

The week’s events also included a bus trip around Auckland including a private tour of Eden Park, a visit to the boys and girls at the Royal NZ Navy demonstrating how to put a fire out, a harbour cruise, and a stop to watch the Official Opening of the 2013 ANZ Young Farmer Contest Grand Final. And the events wrapped up with a 'Farewell Breakfast' at Doolan's Bar.