Marton man places second in Manawatu Young Farmer of the Year

Nigel Will holds his 14-month-old daughter Libby. Photo / Supplied

Marton Young Farmers' Club member Nigel Will came second in the Taranaki/Manawatu Young Farmer of the Year competitions for the fourth time this year.

Among his winnings were a Honda water pump, the fourth time he has won one.

"Maybe I will be able to swap it for something else," he said.

The FMG Young Farmer of the Year Taranaki/Manawatu regional final was held at the TSB Hub in Hawera on April 22. The winner was 27-year-old Okato dairy farmer James Lawn.

He only took one out of the five challenge titles, but did best overall and went home with $12,500 of prizes. He will be one of seven competing in the finals at Feilding on July 6-8.

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This was the last year Mr Will could compete. He's 31, and is married with a 14-month-old daughter. He farms at Glen Oroua, half way between Sanson and Foxton.

He said it was a tough contest, against two others who have been in previous regional finals.

He won the AgriBusiness and AgriKnowledge challenges, which relate to his job.

He has been managing the family beef fattening, cropping and dairy farm since 2006. He and his brother also own a dairy farm.

He did a lot of preparation for the competition.

"To compete in that contest you really have to put the time and effort in."

He took away a swag of prizes, in both cash and kind. One of them was $1000 toward a new Stihl chainsaw.

"I've got a chainsaw, but I want a bigger one," he said.

He's planning to stay in the Marton Young Farmers' Club, and said it had about 40 members, from a large area - males, females, farmers and rural professionals.

"It's been good. Me and my wife can share it. I will continue supporting the Young Farmers events and I have got other things to do in life now."

Teams from South Makirikiri School near Marton came second and third in the AgriKidsNZ events on April 22. The second placed team will compete in the final.