THE 2025 EAST COAST BATTLE IS ON …
Masterton’sSolway Showgrounds hosts the annual East Coast’s FMGYoung Farmer of the Year competition on Saturday8March 2025.
Season 57 forthe FMGYoung Farmer of the Year Awards sweeps through seven New Zealand regionsbetween February and April, with the Grand Final scheduled from 3to5July in Invercargill
Thecompetition is designed to identify and celebratethe topyoung farmers across the country, and the overall winner of FMGYoung Farmer of the Year will walk away with over $90,000 worthofprizesthe stakes arehigh.
TheEast Coast’sregional battle is open to the public on Saturday8March, as all levels take partintheir practical challenges.The three levels include:
FMGYoung Farmer of the Year
FMGJunior Young Farmer of the Year
AgriKidsNZ
In the evening,abuzzer-style quiz will be held,and the East Coast winners announced Finalists in this year’s East Coast battle are Connor Richardson (Dannevirke),
James Robbie (Puketoi), Samantha Thomson (Dannevirke), SamSherwood (Eskview),AliceAnderson (Tikokino), and Emma Haughey (Dannevirke)
In 2024, the East Coastwinners were Archie Woodhouse (1ST), Callum Woodhouse (2ND), and BenWallace (3RD)
FMGhas been the principalsponsor of the Young Farmer of the Year competition since2015 and has alwayslooked forinnovativewaystoengage local communities in the contest
New Zealand Young Farmers Chief Executive, Lynda Coppersmith, has been reportedassaying “each year,weare blown away by the caliber of our FMG Young Farmer of the Year contestants, from our AgriKidsNZ participants through to those vying forthe regional FMGYoung Farmer of the Year title.Their knowledge, skills and passion forthe industryis impressiveand certainly leavesusexcited forthe futureofour industry.”
New Zealand’s food and fibre exports are forecast by the government to reach $57 billion in the year to June 2025. Young Farmers clubs have been partofthe backbone of this critical sectorfor almost 100 years,nurturing and supporting talent while growing connectedcommunities
Thereare four Young Farmers clubs in the Wairarapa/Tararua district, each open to people aged 16 to 31. Local clubs are:
Puketoi -meets at 7pm on thethird Wednesdayofeach month at the Pongaroa Hotel,1810 Route52, Pongaroa: youngfarmers.co.nz/puketoi-young-farmers
South Wairarapa -meets at 6.30pm on the first Wednesdayofeach month at TheGladstone Inn, 571Gladstone Road: youngfarmers.co.nz/south-wairarapayoung-farmers.
Dannevirke -meets at 6.30pm on the last Wednesdayofeachmonth at the Mangatera Hotel and Restaurant, Dannevirke: youngfarmers.co.nz/dannevirke
Tararua -meets at 7pm on thesecond Mondayofeach month at the Post Office Hotel,Pahiatua: youngfarmers.co.nz/ tararua-young-farmers
Members of the clubs areinvolved in arange of professions including dairy, sheep and beef,agricultural contracting, banking,engineering,forestry, butchery, teaching,and lifestyle farming.You can make friends forlife, network with like-minded people,and develop your personal and practical skills
East Coast FMG Young Farmer of theYear: 2024 WINNERS
In2024, Archie Woodhouse,then aged22, pipped hisolder brother, Callum, to takeout the East Coast FMGYoung Farmer of the Year award, following fierce competitionatthe Solway Showgrounds in Masterton.
Archie came to thecompetition having completed his studies at Lincoln UniversityinChristchurch, obtaining abachelor’s degreeinagricultureand amaster’s degreeinagribusiness,and having joined the family’s sheep and beef farminEketāhuna.
He says thatentering the competition wasa “great waytomeet awhole lot of people whowerepassionate about farming.After havingbeen away studying forfour years,itwas anopportunitytomix withpeople immersed in the practicalities of farming,aswellastotestmyself.”
Practical challenges at the competitionincluded making asmall farmlet which included afencing module and setting up atrough forthe supply of water.There was also ahead-to-head race in which all the competitors were timed as they worked through tasks such as putting the chain the rightway on a chainsaw. Archie describes this race as ‘infamous’.
Sincethe 2024 East Coast FMG Young Farmer of the Year event, Archie has taken on the role of PrimaryIndustries Consultant forWSP in Waikato, working to supportthe rural sectoras it navigatesenvironmental, regulatory,and market changes Archie grew up withsheep and beef farming and says that,
although the sheep and beef sector has gone through some tough years, he’s positiveabout its futuregiven the calibreofpassionateyoung farmers comingthrough.
“I’m focused on helping farmers build resilience in arapidly changing world,”Archie says.“My aim is to returntofarminginthe next fewyears.Inthe meantime,I’m learning as much as possible about the industry.”
Callum Woodhouse(right), 3
Ben Wallace(left)
East CoastFMG JuniorYoung Farmers of theYear: TEST YOUR SKILLS
If you’re asecondary school studentinterested in agriculture,the FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year contest is foryou.This competition lets you dive into farming,test your skills, and meet others who share your passion.
Whether youaim to take over the family farm, pursue acareer in agribusiness, or simply want to learnmoreabout the industry, this is the perfect opportunityto get involved
Gain hands-on experience in various aspects of farming,fromlivestock managementtoenvironmental stewardship
Competeagainst other students from across the country, and show what you’re made of.
Discover the diverse career opportunities within the agricultural sectorand startbuilding your network
Work in teams of two to solve complexchallenges,building teamwork and leadership skills
An FMGJunior Young Farmer of the Year team consists of twopeople,and the entryfee is $10 ateam. Thereisnolevel of knowledge or experiencerequired to entera team -just come and have agoat the East Coast regional heats on Saturday, 8March 2025.
Foranidea of whatkind of tasks to expect, go to the Module Topic Libraryfor ideas about possiblechallenges: youngfarmers.co.nz/fmgjuniormodulelibrary.
Possible challenges mightrelateto:
Animalmanagement.
Crop management.
Farm vehicles
Farm management.
Protecting the environment.
Soil management.
Afterthe Face-Offquiz, the toptwo teams will be crowned East Coast’s regional winners and will qualify to representtheir region at the Grand Final in July
Winners of the FMGJunior Young Farmer of the Year Grand Finalin2024: Hayden Drummondand Shamus Young
AnAgriKidsNZcompetitorat theHonda-sponsoredmodule
adventure that celebrates all things agriculture KidsNZ:
AgriKidsNZ is an exciting nationwide competition designed forkids aged8to13 who love farming and want to learnmoreabout agriculture.
In AgriKidsNZ, you’ll tackle challenges thatare funand engaging,thatteach you about farming,and showcase your skills and creativity.
Teams of three can enterthe East Coast’s regional AgriKidsNZ heats forfree. Each school mayenter up to eightteams,with
atotal of 35teams per event. If spots are full,join the waitlist to be notified if a placebecomes available.Registrations close at 11:59pmonthe Sundaybefore the event.Missed the deadline? Contact events@youngfarmers.co.nz.
Childrenfromall backgrounds enjoy thiscompetition: it’s away to get outside and getactivewith friends.No experienceisrequired.All that’sneeded is determination and enthusiasm.
Explore Farming: get hands-on experiencewith differentaspects of farming,fromtakingcareofanimals to learning about the environment.
FunChallenges: competeinexciting activities and challenges with other kids from across the country.
Discover Opportunities: learnabout the manycool jobs in agricultureand startthinkingabout whatyou might want to do in the future
Teamwork: work with afriend to solvefun problems and buildyour teamwork skills
Check out the Module Topic Libraryat youngfarmers.co.nz/agrikidsmodulelibrary to see the types of farming-related tasks the AgriKidsNZ teams mightface.
Thetop three teams from the EastCoast regional competitionget to competein the GrandFinal in July 2025.
Wairarapa College is proud to educate the next generation. Our renownedAgricultureDepartment, ledbya teamofpassionate educators andmentors, offers some of thebestfacilitiesfor secondary agricultural learning in the country. This inclusiveprogramme welcomes studentsfromdiverse backgrounds, providing them with opportunitiesto exploreafutureinfarming.