"The boys are super-excited and super-nervous. In fact, that's their biggest challenge to overcome, and not to forget to work as a team. This has been a part of their practice, they have worked on slowing down and listening to each other," says Liam's mother, Sharon Hodgson.
"They have spent hours studying, we created resources for them over the last eight weeks and then tested them on what they have learned. This past week, they have studied a couple of hours a day,
"Working as a team, they also spent last weekend doing practical work. some activities were juice tasting, making guacamole, changing tyres, making fences and putting a beehive together."
Archie is hoping to join the farming sector in the future and is interested in farming practices. Liam is looking to enter veterinary or ecology and environmental protection. Whereas Leighton has a passion for the mechanical side of farming and loves tractors and motorbikes. These different areas of interest create a dynamic team that covers all areas of farming.
Sharon says this competition is "a great opportunity. I encourage anyone to enter the regional and give it a go. It is so important to broaden a child's skill set and not just focus on sports or academia, it helps provide that depth of knowledge. Especially in New Zealand, where agriculture is a vital part of our country".
