Young farmers face off for regional title in five testing challenges

East Coast regional final convenor Kahlia Fryer prepares one of the courses for today's FMG Young Farmer competition, which is open to the public. Photo/Nicki Harper

Three Hawke's Bay locals will be vying for the top title at this year's East Coast regional final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest being held at the CHB A & P showgrounds in Waipukurau this weekend.

Along with three competitors from Tararua and two from Wairarapa, their stamina, speed, business skills and general knowledge will be thoroughly tested over five challenges that began last night at the CHB Municipal Theatre in Waipawa with the Agmardt agri-business challenge.

This was a 50 minute written exam covering their management, technological and business acumen skills.

Today the public get the chance to watch them in action tackling three challenges.

First up the Ravensdown agri-skills challenge - a tough, dirty set of 30-minute modules designed to test their practical skills, followed by the Massey University agri-growth challenge - an intense interview with a panel of industry judges where they will be scrutinised for their awareness of key agricultural issues and their opinions on them.

The last event for the day is the agri-sports challenge - an adrenaline-filled race where finalists compete side by side in a range of tasks, where some will thrive and some will fall apart.

On Saturday evening, the Meridian Energy agri-knowledge and awards ceremony will be held.

The agri-knowledge quiz will test contestants on their general and agriculture knowledge in a series of suspense-filled buzzer rounds.

Hawke's Bay contender Hamish Best has been tipped as a front-runner having finished second in last year's regional final and after winning the Hawke's Bay district contest and skills day.

The 26-year-old works at PGG Wrightson as a technical field officer and was raised on a sheep and beef farm at Ohariu Valley. He lives with wife Hannah on a 50ha lifestyle block they own.

He will be up against fellow Hawke's Bay finalist Hugh Abbis, 24, who manages a lamb and beef finishing farm and is competing for the first time this year.

Also from Hawke's Bay is 26-year-old Rissington Station second-in-command stock manager Ben Thomas - another newcomer to the competition.

Joining the Hawke's Bay contingent will be Patrick Crawshaw, 24, Daniel Tarbottom, 24 and Liam Kelly, 29, from Tararua and Richard Cameron, 28, and Henry Reynolds, 26, from Wairarapa.

The finalists have the opportunity to reel in prizes to a total value of $134,673 for their efforts, and the regional winner after this weekend will compete against six others from around the country at the grand final in Manawatu in July.