Te Puke Young Farmers seek new members

Te Puke Young Farmers helped out with hay making on a local farm last week. Photo / Supplied

You do have to be young, but you don't have to be a farmer to join Te Puke Young Farmers.

Aimed at 18 to 30-year-olds, the group was re-established around three years ago with a healthy membership, but numbers have declined and president Nigel Gordon is keen to attract new people.

"Some have aged out, but a lot of our members are dairy farmers and they move to different jobs from season to season," he says.

To join you really only need to have an interest in the land.

"That's a bit of a misconception about the club," says Nigel. "People think you have to be a farmer, but you don't really. We've got bankers, accountants, a nurse - you just have to have an interest in farming."

Curiously, the group has never had a member from the horticulture industry.

Primarily a social group, there are regular activities and sometimes members join with other groups' activities.

"There's a whole big network of clubs and we feed off others in the Bay of Plenty and go to their events."

Recently the Te Puke group has been clay pigeon shooting, karting and at the weekend will go to the Luge in Rotorua. Members fundraise for the club by helping out on farms and have a stall at Te Puke A&P Show.

Nigel says the best way to contact and find out about the club and its activities is to like its Facebook page.

Club members hold a monthly meeting at Molly's on the last Tuesday of the month, with the next meeting on January 30 at 6.30pm.

Being a member also bring access to a range of services offered by New Zealand Young Farmers.