The contest is a great event, and it's good to see Young Farmers growing it, including a conference element again at the final. Convening the national finals of the fencing and stock judging competitions to coincide with the technical day will add momentum to the weekend which will, hopefully, draw a record turnout. The old saying 'the more the merrier' applies and Dunedin will be a great host city.
Admittedly, it's not going to be cheap: the conference alone is $225 and there will be tickets to other elements to come on top of that, not to mention getting there, accommodation and no doubt 'refreshments'. However, the networking opportunities, social and business, should be many and, who knows, if you're of a Young Farmer age, maybe you can get the boss to chip in or put some of the cost against your own business.
The venue for the practical day, the Forsythe Barr Stadium, means you won't need your gumboots or wet weather gear – guaranteed. That venue adds a certain irony to the Thursday night speeches dinner theme The Great Outdoors, but then the organisers were probably onto that.
Every year the publicity machine fired up for the contest is impressive. Newspapers and other media nationwide are bombarded with releases from the day the district final dates are set to close of the televised final. Which prompts the question, why isn't Young Farmers more vocal on other issues? It clearly has the resources and contact lists to get its voice out there. But it's strangely silent. Is it because the industry's youth has nothing to say? Doubtful. More likely it's a combination of caution due to tall poppy syndrome; being too busy with day-to-day business, family, and social life; and respect for the experience of other elected industry representatives.
Whatever the reasons, Young Farmers could well put them aside and, where appropriate, offer a considered opinion or call for action on certain issues. After all, its members will have to live tomorrow with the consequences of today's policies.
