Comment: Young Farmer TV snub a disgrace

Photo / File

Two generations of Kiwi farmers grew up watching the Grand Final live on TV, it's inspired countless others to follow their hearts on to the land and is turning the big 5-0 this year ... yet the two main national television networks refuse to grant the 2018 FMG New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year event any screen time.

Like it or loathe it, farming's our nation's biggest earner, dairy alone contributing $12.7 billion in the 12 months to July 2017. Yet the iconic competition to celebrate the physical, mental and intellectual prowess of our nation's rising farming stars will take place in the dark, due to a lack of interest from television networks.

For the second year running, the FMG Young Farmer of the Year committee approached both TVNZ and Mediaworks for screen time and for the second year running were met with the response: It's just not popular enough. Sorry.

It makes a mockery of the messages proclaimed for decades - shop local, buy NZ-made, support New Zealand Music Month. Just not aspiring Kiwi farmers it seems. Even Australian shows are more popular than a homegrown one - this Tuesday night (November 14), between 7:30pm and 8:30pm, you could be forgiven for mistaking which country you're in, with Outback Truckers on TVNZ One or Australian Survivor on TVNZ Two; while over on Three...you guessed it, another Australian reality show - Australian Ninja Warrior.

In an interview with Jamie Mackay on Friday November 10, contest spokesman Dean Rabbidge barely contained his anger at the decision. "My language wouldn't be quite appropriate if I described how I really feel about it. Apparently, we're just not, for lack of a better term, 'sexy enough' for reality TV anymore, which is a real shame."

"There has been no willingness on behalf of the networks to embrace what is still the most prestigious agricultural competition in the world. It continues to be a wonderful vehicle for showcasing excellence and the talent of young farmers in this country and in our opinion is a slice of primetime television that all New Zealanders need to relate to."

Mr Rabbidge said the contest board was aware of shifting television priorities and the need to be more entertainment based and accordingly had approached both networks with a variety of fresh ideas to help broaden the appeal of the contest to urban audiences. But he played down any suggestion of trying to trivialise the show in any way to possibly re-attract network attention. "We're not prepared to put the or the integrity or mana of 50 years of competition into jeopardy."

NZ Young Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland said he was saddened by the networks' decisions and believed they were missing a fantastic opportunity to profile incredible young finalists who often moved on to become New Zealand thought leaders.

"It is particularly difficult to accept that TVNZ, who are charged with showcasing New Zealand content, no longer see value in what is still an iconic piece of our history."

Looking at next week's TV guide, maybe if the prize pack included a mystery spouse with the New Holland, or they shipped the final off to an Australian location ... then it might be considered "sexy" enough for prime time viewing.

The FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest takes place in July 2018 in Invercargill.