TASMAN REGION BATTLE

Saturday, April 1st, is going to be an action-packed day as contestants from across the New Zealand Young Farmer Tasman Region battle it out for a place at the Season 55 Grand Final. The Practical Day will be held at Amuri A&P Showgrounds in Rotherham, with the Evening Show being held at the Hanmer Springs Memorial Hall. There are seven Regional Finals running across Aotearoa between February and April 2023. The finalists could be tested on any aspect of modern farming across the whole supply chain.

Each Regional Final will decide who will be competing at the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final in July 2023. The winner of FMG Young Farmer of the Year will receive around $70,000 worth of prizes thanks to the Contest’s sponsor family.

New Zealand Young Farmers has been a part of rural communities since 1927. FMG Young Farmer of the Year is the flagship event for the non-profit organisation, and the competition has run annually since 1969. Joining the FMG Young Farmer of the Year contestants at the Regional Finals are the next generation of Young Farmers, the AgriKidsNZ and FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year contestants. All finalists for each age range will compete in their respective categories at the Grand Final in July 2023.

Below is a list of contestants who are hoping to represent Tasman in the Grand Final: Sam Back

LincolnYoungFarmers

Sam is currently in his third year of a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Lincoln University. He then plans to complete his fourth year of his degree with an honours project in the Lincoln University Soil Science department.

Sam grew up on dairy farms both in Taranaki and Canterbury and has experience working on dairy, sheep and beef farms. Sam has been a part of New Zealand Young Farmers since high school, where he was the Vice-Chair of his high school Teen Ag Club.

LincolnYoungFarmers

Nick is a member of Lincoln Young Farmers and has recently been appointed Chair.

LincolnYoungFarmers

Archie is currently studying a Masters of Agribusiness at Lincoln University.

He grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Eketahuna but has worked on a range of different farms, including high-country deer and irrigated dairy.

Archie has been a member of Lincoln Young Farmers for three years, where he has held the Vice-Chair position for the last two.

WaimakaririYoungFarmers

George is involved in Civil Earthmoving, currently working on a four-year project and usually is operating a digger, articulated dump truck, or bulldozer.

Close to ageing out of New Zealand Young Farmers, George wanted to give the Contest one last shot at getting through to the Grand Final.

George has been involved with Young Farmers for nearly twelve years and has held many roles in various Clubs around the country.