‘Hard yards’ pay off
Hard work does pay off, says Matt Bell (28), who won the 27th Young Farmer of the Year contest.
“This contest season is shaping up to be very impressive, every year the calibre of contestants continues to impress,” says Terry Copeland, chief executive of New Zealand Young Farmers.
The Otago/Southland Regional Final will see the contenders come together for a day of practical, physical and theoretical challenges at the Queenstown Primary School. The eight finalists are contending for a spot at the Grand Final in Taupo in July with a prize pack worth over $271,000 in products, services, and scholarships.
John White, 30, from the Nightcaps Young Farmers Club, says he is not afraid of a hard work and looks forward to the challenge of his second crack at the regional final level of the contest. White and his wife own a contract milking business and manage a dairy farm at Riverton with 450 cows. He also provides farm support systems to various farming businesses in Southland and believes New Zealand Young Farmers is a key organisation for young rural professionals to be involved in.
Steven Henderson, from the Waitane Young Farmers Club is in his third round of regional finals. The 28-year-old is an active member of his Young Farmers club as well as the Winton Fire Service. Henderson and his wife are sharemilking 320 cows in Winton.
Olivia Ross, 26, of the Balfour Young Farmers Club is one of the few women competing at this level. She works as senior technical consultant for Outgro Fertiliser and has competed at district final level on and off for the past six years. Ross is involved in a number of activities including the local fire brigade, Lions Club, and Young Farmers. She is also a keen horsewoman and competes on the NZ Rodeo Circuit.
Justin Davie, 25, from the Thornbury Young Farmers Club is competing at regional final level for the first time. Davie admits to having a competitive nature that he hopes, paired with a good work ethic, will help him to victory. Davie farms alongside his wife and family at Groper’s Bush on a sheep and beef property, which they also use for dairy support.
Twenty-two-year-old Hamish Robinson represents the Wyndham Young Farmers Club. He is now in his second year out of Lincoln University and is competing for a second time at regional final level. Robinson was bought up on a sheep and beef farm but since leaving university has moved to work in the dairy industry for his share in some “white gold”.
Logan Wallace, of the Clinton Young Farmers Club is a hot contender for the Otago/Southland winner’s title having come runner up in the 2014 Regional Final. The 25-year-old Wallace runs a 290ha sheep farm in Waipahi and is heavily involved in the local youth group in his spare time. He says competing in the contest helps young farmers to network and widen their farming knowledge.
Ben Gardyne, 22, of the Waitane Club is a farm consultant for Otago and Southland. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in agriculture; this is his first time at regional final level. Gardyne is an avid rugby player and loves his motorbikes.
At 22 Lyndon Wallace, from the Waitane Young Farmers Club is an experienced competitor with two regional finals under his belt. Wallace believes his practical mind and passion for agriculture will aid his success in the Contest. He stock manages 1500ha of sheep and beef country at Waimumu.
Also in the midst of the action are the future Young Farmers - the AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg competitions, which will be running alongside the ANZ Young Farmer Contest.
Further details and Evening Show tickets are available from www.youngfarmercontest.co.nz
