FMG Young Farmer title finalists
Four dairy farmers are among the seven finalists vying for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year title.
DEAN RABBIDGE is the second Grand Finalist to be named in the 2014 ANZ Young Farmer Contest. Rabbidge joins Tasman's Reuben Carter, with five spots still up for grabs.
The 28-year-old, sheep, beef and dairy farmer from the Wyndham Club took first place at the Otago Southland Regional Final, in Alexandra, at Pioneer Park on Saturday, February 22. Mr Rabbidge also won the Agmardt Agri Business component of the contest.
Rabbidge summarised his event "the day didn't go as well as I had hoped for, with a very broad range of challenges it is hard to tailor your preparation. I am stoked with my performance in the evening show, my preparation and hard work on this section of the contest paid off".
It was a strong group of competitors 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 Logan Wallace, 24, of the Clinton/South Otago Club. He took home $2900 worth of prizes. Wallace also took out the Lincoln University Agri Growth, Ravensdown Agri Skills and Silver Fern Farms Agri Sport in a very competitive first Regional Final performance.
Nightcaps Club was well represented with three contestants in the Regional Final. John White, 30, placed third, Simon Topham, 25, placed fourth and Hayden Gentle, 28, placed 7th.
Rabbidge went home with a prize pack worth over $10,000 including cash, scholarships and products and services from ANZ, Lincoln University, Ravensdown, AGMARDT, Silver Fern Farms, Honda, Husqvarna and Vodafone.
The next stage for Mr Rabbidge is to go to the Grand Final in Christchurch, 3-5 July where he will battle it out for the Champion's title and over $300,000 in prizes. He returns to the Grand Final for the second consecutive year.
A technical lab manager for Apata, Phoebe Scherer, has won the Bay of Plenty 2025 Young Grower regional title.
Following heavy rain which caused flooding in parts of Nelson-Tasman and sewerage overflows in Marlborough, the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme (IFSO Scheme) is urging homeowners and tenants to be cautious when cleaning up and to take the right steps to support claims.
Newly elected Federated Farmers meat and wool group chair Richard Dawkins says he will continue the great work done his predecessor Toby Williams.
Hosted by ginger dynamo Te Radar, the Fieldays Innovation Award Winners Event put the spotlight on the agricultural industry's most promising ideas.
According to DairyNZ's latest Econ Tracker update, there has been a rise in the forecast breakeven milk price for the 2025/26 season.
Despite the rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared, and the 50th Fieldays Tractor Pull Competition drew crowds of spectators across the four days of the annual event.
OPINION: ACT MP Mark Cameron isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but he certainly calls it how he sees it, holding…
OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?