Kiwi a transtasman winner

This is a historic win for New Zealand, taking top honours in only the second year the competition has been extended transtasman.

Van de Molen, a 29-year-old agribusiness manager for ANZ and based in Waikato, is overwhelmed by the win.

He was expecting stiff competition and that was the case.

Two male and four female competitors representing the various Australian States or Territories presented for interviews in Darwin.

While this gruelling process included the usual questions on goals, ambitions and community involvement, a couple of curly questions were thrown in.

The candidates were asked their views on the live export trade and what they would do if they were the Prime Minister for the day.

The individual interviews concluded with an onstage interview that night in front of about 70 people.

The win not only celebrates van de Molen achievements but symbolises the way forward for the showing movement in New Zealand.

The RAS Rural Youth Ambassador Competition had fallen on hard times in recent years. First established in 1998 and known as the Young Achiever Award, the competition was well supported and carried through relatively strongly until 2008, however at this time the Award went in to recess due to a lack of sponsor.

In 2011 the RAS Executive resurrected the Award, in conjunction with Young Farmers, as they see youth involvement as an important part of revitalising the showing movement.

The prestige associated with winning an award like this, especially a transtasman title is immense and van de Molen will become the youthful face of the New Zealand showing movement. As part of the prize package he receives a $5000 travel grant to further his agricultural interests and has indicated Canada as a place of interest.