Beauties v beefcakes in rural 'bachelor' competition

Allie Bolstad runs 310 jersey cows on a farm near Te Aroha. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Allie Bolstad admits her idea of a perfect date could be a little bit unconventional.

The 25-year-old sharemilker says a candle-lit dinner in a plush restaurant is probably near the bottom of her list.

"I definitely wouldn't be sitting down for a meal. Nah, too boring. I'd rather go for a run, maybe go to the pools, go fishing, you know, something different like that."

Ms Bolstad will be one of eight women lining up against the men in several categories of the Rural Bachelor of the Year competition when the Fieldays start on Wednesday at Mystery Creek, near Hamilton.

In what could be a cross between Country Calendar and New Zealand's Next Top Model, the contest - in which average Kiwi blokes in the rural sector showcase their farming abilities by performing a number of physical feats - has this year been extended to women for the first time.

Ms Bolstad has been running an 82ha farm with 310 jersey cows near Te Aroha for the past eight years and says she has few problems doing so.

But her skills in dog obedience and using a digger - which are the categories in which the women and the men will face off - aren't too flash.

"I don't have a dog, but my parents have a dog that jumps all over me and I can't control it," Ms Bolstad said.

"I'm also no good at digger driving. Tractor driving is probably the closest thing, and I hate driving tractors too ... There could be a few laughs, but it should be fun."

Although the women will not be in the running to win the Rural Bachelor title or any prizes, Ms Bolstad is hopeful of at least meeting some quality rural blokes.

"It would be good to meet some nice men who are doing the same thing as me and heading in the same direction," she said.

"I haven't had any success yet and there's no one decent at the local pub."

The 41st New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays will run until Saturday.

Event co-ordinator Lianne Dunbar says organisers hope this year's Fieldays will be even bigger than last year's, when a record 131,000 visitors turned up over the four days to visit more than 100 exhibitions.

The event is the biggest of its type in the Southern Hemisphere, mainly because it falls during the lowest ebb of productivity, allowing farmers to take a break.