URBN Vino
It’s somewhat fitting that a historian should want to set up shop in Dunedin’s historic precinct.
The seven Grand Finalists have each won their respective Regional Finals and the right to compete for the Young Farmer Contest Champion title along with their share of over $100,000 worth of prizes thanks to The National Bank, Lincoln University, Ravensdown, AGMARDT, Silver Fern Farms, Honda, Swanndri and Echo.
Four of this year's Grand Finalists will be competing in their second and therefore last Grand Final: Otago/Southland's sheep, beef and arable farmer – 24 year old Pete Gardyne; Aorangi's sheep and beef farmer – 30 year old Andrew Scott; Tasman's veterinarian – 26 year old Michael Lilley and Waikato/Bay of Plenty's agricultural consultant – 27 year old Sam Williams.
The other contestants include East Coast's farm business manager for Taratahi – 26 year old Tony Dowman and Taranaki/Manawatu's dairy farm manager – 26 year old Brad Lewis. Northern is represented by dairy farm equity partner 26 year old Katherine Tucker. Katherine is the third woman in the Contest's history to qualify for the Grand Final.
The contestants have a big week ahead of them in Dunedin. The week will be officially opened on Wednesday, May 23 at Wall Street Mall; however the first day of competition for the Grand Finalists will be at the Invermay Research Centre for the Technical Day on Thursday, May 24 where they will be tested on a range of theory related tasks. The Technical Day is open to the public and spectators can also cheer on New Zealand Young Farmers members in the National Fencing and Stock Judging competitions.
Later that evening the contestants will be required to present a speech at the 'Great Outdoors' themed Speeches Dinner at the Edgar Centre.
The Practical Day will take place on Friday, May 25 in the Forsyth Barr Stadium and is sure to pull in the spectators with entertaining practical Challenges along with AgriKidsNZ, TeenAg and New Zealand Young Farmers competitions.
Earlier that morning the AGMARDT Agri-business Breakfast will also be held at the Stadium where some high profile speakers will discuss the topic: 'Licence to Operate: A Regulatory Barrier, or Market Opportunity.'
Finally the culmination of the week is where the real excitement takes place: the Grand Final Televised Evening Show and Celebration Ball at the Edgar Centre on Saturday, May 26. The show will be televised live on TVNZ 7 for New Zealand to watch on as the 2012 Contest Champion is announced.
For more information go to www.youngfarmercontest.co.nz
