URBN Vino
It’s somewhat fitting that a historian should want to set up shop in Dunedin’s historic precinct.
It's a case of one down, two to go for the seven grand finalists of The National Bank Young Farmer Contest after the Technical Day took place at the Invermay Research Station yesterday (May 24).
Tomorrow plays host to the Grand Final Televised Evening Show and Ball at Dunedin's Edgar Centre. Here the contestants will have a final chance to score points before the 2012 Contest Champion is announced.
But meanwhile the grand finalists had a tough first day of challenges yesterday in the gruelling three-day agricultural competition.
The Technical Day wrapped up with the Speeches Dinner at Dunedin's Edgar Centre where contestants were required to present a speech to a 300 strong audience. The seven grand finalists had several challenges to complete earlier in the day at Invermay Research station which included the AGMARDT Agri-business Challenges.
The Lincoln University Agri-growth Challenges required the contestants to think on their feet.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei, Dean of Commerce at Lincoln University Dr Patrick Aldwell and Ravensdown director Patrick Willock made up a panel that quizzed the contestants on anything from their career goals to topical issues. In the human resources challenge, contestants were faced with simulated scenarios.
The seven grand finalists are Northern's Katherine Tucker, Waikato/Bay of Plenty's Sam Williams, Taranaki/Manawatu's Brad Lewis, East Coast's Tony Dowman, Tasman's Michael Lilley, Aorangi's Andrew Scott and Otago/Southland's Pete Gardyne.
A physical day awaits these contestants tomorrow (May 26) at the Forsyth Barr Stadium where the Practical Day will take place. The day is open to the public and spectators are encouraged to come along and support their favourite Grand Finalist. The Grand Final of the AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg Competitions will also be held.
Contestants are competing for a combined prize pool valued at over $140,000 – the winner alone will walk away with over $70,000 worth of prizes thanks to The National Bank, Lincoln University, Ravensdown, AGMARDT, Silver Fern Farms, Honda, Swanndri and Echo.
Tickets to the Show and Ball are available at www.youngfarmercontest.co.nz.
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.
Nationwide rural wellbeing programme, Farmstrong recently celebrated its tenth birthday at Fieldays with an event attended by ambassador Sam Whitelock, Farmers Mutual Group (FMG), Farmstrong partners, and government Ministers.
Six industry organisations, including DairyNZ and the Dairy Companies Association (DCANZ) have signed an agreement with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to prepare the country for a potential foot and mouth outbreak.
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