Gore is hosting the grand final of the National Bank Young
Farmer of the Year contest this week, where seven of the
country's brightest top rural people compete for the title
and a first prize worth $102,000.
It caps off nearly a year of club and regional finals in
which 300 contestants from 22 districts have been narrowed
down to the final seven.
The roadshow hits town on Wednesday with street events,
competitions for children and a race-off between the North
and South Island young farmer finalists.
They get down to business on Thursday with a technical day at
the Moth Restaurant and Croydon Aviation Heritage Museum at
Mandeville, where they will be tested on farming theory.
These events are closed to the public.
The day ends with finalists delivering a public speech,
prepared during the day, at the Heartland Hotel.
On Friday, the breakfast at the Gore Town and Country Club
with dairy consultant Basil Doonan and the chief executive of
the manufacturers and exporters association John Walley, is
open to the public.
The Gore A and P Showgrounds is the venue for the practical
tests, where the contestants compete head-to-head.
The finale will be held at the MLT Event Centre on Saturday
evening, with the question and answer session and the
crowning of the 2010 National Bank young farmer of the year.
The finalists. - Northern: Titoki sheep and beef farmer James
Donaldson; Waikato-Bay of Plenty: Otorohanga dry stock farmer
and consultant Sam Williams; East Coast: Woodville sheep,
beef and dairy farmer Angus Brown; Taranaki-Manawatu:
Rongotea sharemilker Chris Will; Tasman: Oamaru farmer and
consultant Grant McNaughton; Aorangi: Fairlie sheep and beef
farmer Andrew Scott; Otago-Southland: Gore sheep, beef and
arable farmer Peter Gardyne.
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