The founding name of Young Farmer of the Year, Jim Collins, returned from an overseas trip with the idea to start a radio agricultural quiz. In 1969 Jim was San Francisco, where he saw a show in which young farmers competed for a prize by answering questions and performing tasks based on what they needed to know to be a successful farmer. 

The seeds of a New Zealand version were sown in Jim's mind. He approached Lincoln College, and they directed him to Young Farmers. And the rest they say, is history.

Extract taken from '50 Years Young: A history of the Young Farmer of the Year'.