Students from Marton's South Makirikiri School to compete at AgriKidsNZ grand final in Invercargill

South Makirikiri School students take time out to strike a pose during a busy AgriKidsNZ competition. Photo / Supplied.

Seven students from South Makirikiri School will travel to Invercargill to compete with the best in the AgriKidsNZ grand final.

The school in Marton sent two teams to the Taranaki/Manawatu AgriKidsNZ regional final in Wellington in February and they placed second and third to qualify.

Attending the grand final on July 6 will be special for Hayley Grant as her daughter Abbey will be competing in what is sure to be a hotly-contested event.

"I have five children and they've all competed at either regional or national AgriKidsNZ finals, Abbey is the last," Grant said.

"She's only in Year 7 and is thrilled to finally be having a go."

The students tackle fun challenges testing their practical and theoretical skills with the competition a key part in attracting students into the agri-food sector.

It took a mammoth fundraising effort to get the students to Invercargill.

"We've had to raise $8000 to get the kids down to Invercargill, we've just done our last sausage sizzle and have achieved our target, which is awesome," Grant said.

"Our school has had a team make a final of AgriKidsNZ almost every year since it started, thanks to the passion of our kids, teachers and parents."

AgriKidsNZ began in 2003 and it has been running alongside the FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand final for 10 years.

To mark the occasion, South Makirikiri School is holding a special celebration with guest speaker Will Taylor, who was a young farmer of the year grand finalist.

"One of the neat things about the competition is that is gives our students from urban areas like Marton an opportunity to learn skills from farm kids," Grant said.

"It gives me a real buzz."

The South Makirikiri School competitors are Elsa Trotter, Tom Whitton, Kendall Rakete-Marshall, Aleesha Managh, Katie Clarke, Abbey Grant and Hugh Thomas.