Monday, 02 March 2020 09:55

Joseph Watts once again the East Coast FMG Young Farmer of the Year

Written by  Staff Reporters
East Coast FMG Young Farmer of the Year, Joseph Watts. East Coast FMG Young Farmer of the Year, Joseph Watts.

History has repeated itself at the FMG Young Farmer of the Year East Coast Regional Final.

29-year-old PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative, Joseph Watts has taken out the title for the second year in a row.

Watts has taken home $12,000 in prizes and says he is excited to get another shot at the grand final.

Watts came runner up to James Robertson in 2019 by just half a point.

The competition on Saturday saw eight regional finalists compete in eight modules and battle it out in two time and points races head-to-heads at The Central Hawke’s Bay A&P Show Grounds, Waipukurau.

The two head-to-heads involved building and fitting a wooden gate, putting together a trough fitting, administering first aid to an ‘injured child’, wood chopping, pruning trees, pushing wool bales and more.

A written exam, as well as the famous FMG Young Farmer of the Year (FMG YFOTY) buzzer quiz also tested the regional finalist’s knowledge.

Being a 2019 grand finalist, Watts’ said was a strength, knowing where to pick up points.

“Although it’s a farming competition, I’m able to feedback on some of my sporting career as well and work out how to actually win. It might not be in the prettiest way or the best way but it comes down to amounting as many points at the end of the day.” 

The former professional squash player was ranked 169th on the World Circuit in his prime.

Joseph Watts fitting a wooden gate during the competition.

For Watts, the road to Grand Final starts now. 

He grew up as a city boy in Palmerston North and studied a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science at Massey University.

He met his wife Lucy at University, who introduced him to the rural lifestyle.

They moved to Raetihi after graduating where he learnt to shear and spent two years in the sheds.

Discovering a passion for agronomy, he studied a post graduate diploma in Agricultural Science and Rural Studies.

He’s now been with PGG Wrightson for close to four years and is committed to winning FMG Young Farmer of the Year for 2020.

“You can do all the preparation in the world but it depends what they throw at you on the day, how it falls. Generally the cream rises to the top but there’s certainly some luck to play with there,” says Watts.

He also wants to use the pedestal as grand finalist to put a spotlight on the agrifood sector.

“That’s definitely something I want to improve on from last year, along with half a point,” he says.

Three more regional finals will be held in the South Island over the next five weeks.  

The eight finalists at the FMG Young Farmer of the Year East Coast Regional Final.

Full results

1st – Joseph Watts

2nd – Hamish Hammond

3rd – Georgina Campbell

Strainer winners 

People – Cameron Walker 

Environment – Hamish Hammond

Innovation – Hamish Hammond

Technology – Joseph Watts

Food – Joseph Watts

More like this

Protext people from others' mistakes

Sam Hodsell, the 2021 Otago-Southland FMG Young Farmer of the Year, says it’s critical to identify and manage workplace risks on their farm – but he and his family are also actively putting tangible measures in place to help protect people if someone does make a mistake.

Watts hat trick title win

Joseph Watts has proven he’s too hard to beat, taking out East Coast FMG Young Farmer of the Year for the third year in a row.

Rathkeale College duo takes out win

A duo from Rathkeale College, Masterton have taken out the title for the 2021 East Coast FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year after competing for four years in a row.

Featured

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

Editorial: Passage to India

OPINION: Even before the National-led coalition came into power, India was very much at the fore of its trade agenda.

National

Knowing bugs means fewer drugs

A mastitis management company claims to deliver the fastest and most accurate mastitis testing available at scale for New Zealand…

Machinery & Products

100 years of Farmall Tractors

Returning after an enforced break, the Wheat and Wheels Rally will take place on the Lauriston -Barhill Road, North-East of…

JD unveils its latest beast

John Deere has unveiled its most powerful tractor ever, with the launch of the all new 9RX Series Tractor line-up…

Biggest Quadtrac coming to NZ!

In the biggest announcement that Case IH Australia/New Zealand has made around its tractor range, its biggest tractor is about…

A different shade of blue for Norwood

Norwood and ARGO Tractors, the Italian manufacturer of Landini and McCormick tractors, have announced an agreement that gives Norwood exclusive…

Kubota tests diesel engines

Kubota last month used the UK LAMMA Show to test the water with its new 200hp, four-cylinder 09-series diesel engines.

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Why?

OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…

Fat to cut

OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter