First-time contestant crowned Northland's best
A Franklin dairy farmer has inched closer to national victory after being crowned Northland’s top young farmer.
Mark Wallace of Puketoi has taken out the title of East Coast FMG Young Farmer of the Year.
The 30-year-old is a farm worker on a sheep, beef and cropping farm, having previously spent five years as a veterinarian.
The Regional Final was held on Saturday at Russell Park in Waipukurau.
Wallace says he was thankful to the convening committee for putting on the event.
“You put a really good day on, there was something for everyone out there,” he says.
He also thanked a number of people who helped him along the way.
“A special thanks to all the competitors, everyone was really good at something, I certainly wasn’t the best in the practical side there was some great fencing out there. And I’m appreciating the massive irony in winning this trophy with a gate when I couldn’t even get the gate on.”
Ahead of the grand final, Wallace says he will be focusing on improving his practical skills.
The contest is based on four pillars – agri-skills, agri-business, agri-sports and agri-knowledge.
The FMG Young Farmer of the Year Contest Series is sponsored by FMG, Ravensdown, Worksafe, MPI, Environmental Protection Authority, Honda, STIHL, Massey University, Lincoln University, New Holland and PTS Logistics.
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