Road to grand final continues
The first FMG Young Farmer of the Year Regional Final will kick off at the Helensville Showgrounds this Saturday.
Grand Finalists have been selected, all regional finals have concluded, and the journey towards the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final is underway.
Seven FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Finalists, 14 FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year teams, and 21 AgriKidsNZ teams will be heading to Hamilton to battle it out for the top awards, this July.
It’s been an exciting start to the year as some of New Zealand’s most talented young farmers were showcased.
The events brought together passionate and skilled young farmers from across the country with each contestant demonstrating their understanding of the food and fibre sector and their commitment to the future of the industry.
The competition was fierce, with each young farmer putting their best foot forward in the hopes of securing a place in the Grand Final.
Volunteer teams tested contestants’ knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines, including animal husbandry, crop management, innovation, and sustainability.
Participants also had to compete in a range of practical challenges, including anything from fencing to butchery, and crutching to machinery management.
Lynda Coppersmith, chief executive of New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF), says the competition plays an important role in inspiring and supporting the next generation of farmers.
"The FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition is an essential part of the agricultural industry, and we are proud to provide a platform for young farmers to showcase their skills and knowledge,” Coppersmith says.
"It is great to see the level of talent on display at the Regional Finals, and we are looking forward to the Grand Final to see who will take out the titles for Season 56.”
Held across three days in Hamilton from the 11th to the 13th of July 2024, the Grand Final will be action-packed with hundreds of people expected to be in attendance.
The Grand Final also coincides with the NZYF Annual General Meeting and the NZYF Tournament Series national finals.
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of…
OPINION: The irony of President Trump’s tariff obsession is that the worst damage may be done to his own people.