Monday, 15 July 2024 10:55

Dunedin up-and-comers take top award

Written by  Staff Reporters
2024 FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year winners Hayden Drummond and Shamus Young. 2024 FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year winners Hayden Drummond and Shamus Young.

A duo from Otago Boys’ High School in Dunedin have been awarded the FMG Junior Young Farmers of the Year.

Shamus Young (18) and Hayden Drummond (17) secured the title at the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final in Hamilton over the weekend.

Their quick thinking, practical know-how and farming skills earned praise from judges as they successfully navigated the high-pressure challenges thrown their way.  

“We’re really excited,” says Drummond. “We put a lot of work into this.” 

The competition was fierce, with 13 other teams from schools across Aotearoa rolling up their sleeves in a bid to secure the coveted title.

Young and Drummond won both the farmlet and face-off challenges and dominated the quickfire quiz rounds and practical farming race with their agricultural knowledge. Both have a background in fourth-generation farming. 

Young says he’s pleased the hard work has paid off.

“The competition is so broad, so you’ve got to do well at everything,” he says.  

“It’s always a good feeling to represent your region and school, and do them both proud,” Drummond says.

The FMG Young Farmer of the Year Contest is supported by FMG, Ravensdown, WorkSafe, Ministry for Primary Industries, Milwaukee, Woolworths, Honda, Lincoln University, Massey University, PTS Logistics, New Holland and Bushbuck. 

More like this

Rural insurer pays out $228m

Rural insurer FMG has paid out $228 million to communities impacted by two major weather-related events - Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods.

Featured

State farmer opens pathway to ownership for more Kiwis

In a landmark move, the state-owned farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) is making four of its 44 dairy farms available for people wishing to take up various contracts including herd-owning, share milking, variable order share milking and contract milking.

Coming to a beach near you!

The popular Surfing for Farmers programme, which gives farmers a well-earned break from life on the farm, starts its eighth season from November 5.

MilkHub sold

Milk vat manufacturer DTS is selling its dairy automation business to MilktechNZ.

National

Machinery & Products

Landpower increases its offering

Landpower and the Claas Harvest Centre network will launch the Claas Scorpion and Torion material handling solutions to the market…

New F5 balers from McHale

Irish grassland machinery manufacturer McHale has unveiled the new four-model range of F5 fixed chamber balers.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'Mea culpa'

OPINION: The Reserve Bank’s rate cut is great news, albeit a bit late, but your old mate agrees with Act…

Fast tracked

OPINION: While the Government’s Fast Track bill is copping it from all the usual suspects – opposition parties, greenies, unions…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter