$6000 crops up for fundraising effort

It was a competition that brought out the best swedes, kale and a number of other winter crops from across the Maniototo.

Farmers and spectators all piled into the Ranfurly rugby club rooms last weekend for the inaugural Maniototo Young Farmers winter feed competition.

Prizes were awarded to the top placegetters in each of the two categories, irrigated and dryland. Each category consisted of three sections.

The event was used as a fundraiser for the Maniototo Young Farmers club and a charity auction was also held to fundraise money for St John and Hospital Friends.

Maniototo Young Farmers chairwoman Brooke Elliot said the evening had been a great success and it was a fantastic result for the first of the competition.

''It was good, it was really fantastic''.

Ten items were put up for auction on the night with the major prize being the labour of 10 of the Maniototo Young Farmers for a day.

About $6000 was raised and donated to the charities.

Judges commented on the overall event saying it was an excellent day out and a great concept put together by the young farmers club. Judge Dean Rabbidge said he could see it being replicated by other clubs in the region.

The overall winner was Barry Smith, who said he had picked up some valuable information from the judges that he would not have known if he had not entered.

''It helps me figure out what I can do next year to improve results further.''

Winner of the Irrigated Fodder Beet section was Kyeburn farmer Adam Lindsay, who found many benefits from using fodder beet as a winter feed option.

''The cows just love it, even old cows start hopping around like spring lambs when they get on to a new break of beet,'' he said.

 

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