Second Otago-Southland title for Gore young farmer

Logan Wallace

Logan Wallace will be hoping it is second time lucky, after winning the Otago-Southland FMG Young Farmer of the Year regional final on Saturday.

The win in Browns, near Winton, has secured the Gore sheep farmer a spot in the 2018 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final, his second time in the national final.

The 28-year-old competed in his fourth regional final at the weekend, going head-to-head with seven other top young farmers in a series of agriculture-based modules.

"I'm stoked with the result. The organising committee did an awesome job,'' Mr Wallace said.

"I'd like to thank my parents in advance for all the hard work they're going to be putting in looking after the farm over the next couple of months.''

Mr Wallace represented the lower south region at the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final in Timaru in 2016.

"I learned a lot last time. I know my weaknesses that I need to work on. So, if I can pull them up, that will help a lot.''

He received $12,000 worth of prizes for winning the 2018 regional final.

As well as the overall title, he also won the Meridian Energy Agri-Knowledge Challenge and the Agri-Sports Challenge.

Agricultural consultant Alan Harvey, of Roxburgh, came second and won the coveted Ravensdown Agri-Skills Challenge.

Wyndham sheep and beef farmer Matt McRae took third place and the Massey University Agri-Growth Challenge.

Rural banker Linda Taggart, of Myross Bush, won the AGMARDT Agri-Business Challenge.