Monday, 08 February 2016 17:15

Good on ya, mate

Written by 
Are you the 'real' Southern Man? Are you the 'real' Southern Man?

Souther Field Days (SFD) organisers are on the hunt this year for the 'real' Southern Man.

Men who think they fit the description will be showing off their skills at this year's SFDs at Waimumu, near Gore.

The Southern Man competition is being held at the field days for the first time and the competition has attracted a dozen or so blokes keen to win the title.

Field days publicity officer Justine Williams said the idea for the Southern Man competition came after the last field days were held at Waimumu in 2014.

"It's something a bit different. We want it to reflect Gore's dinner jacket and gumboots theme," she said.

Williams stresses that the contest it is not a rural bachelor competition like the National Fieldays event – and that both single or married blokes have entered.

She says the competition was open to men over 18 years of age, but there was no requirement for entrants to be farmers or work in the rural sector.

"Anyone was able to enter, whether they are a farmer, plumber or chef, it doesn't matter. They just have to prove they are a southern man," Williams says.

She says the winner will prove to be a good all-rounder who can whip up a romantic dinner as well as shear a sheep.

The competition had attracted plenty of support from sponsors including from the archetypical southern man's favourite beverage brewer – Speights.

Each entrant gets a shirt, hat and a goodies bag.

Competitors must complete tasks at the various sponsors' sites, such as stacking blocks, competing in a fashion show and an exercise challenge.

The sponsors and a local personality would help judge the competition to find the Southern Man.

Williams says there are "substantial" prizes for the first, second and third place-getters, and for the crowd favourite.

More like this

Let the games begin!

New Zealand's largest celebration of rural sports athletes and enthusiasts – New Zealand Rural Games - is back for its 10th edition, kicking off in Palmerston North from Thursday, March 6th to Sunday, March 9th, 2025.

Featured

Farmers urged to prepare as heavy rain looms

With adverse weather set to rain down on the Top of the South, the Bay of Plenty and parts of Northland, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says farmers, foresters, and growers need to prepare for possible challenges.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Stop the rot!

OPINION: Bayer Crop Science closing its Hastings research site could be the tip of the iceberg.

Not so cuddly

OPINION: The image of regenerative farmers as kind, cuddly progressive types took a hit when one of their own took…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter