Organisers of the national rural expo at Mystery Creek have named eight finalists competing for the annual fielddays "Rural Bachelor of the Year" title.
The contest will be judged at the national agricultural fieldays, to be held over four days from June 10, south of Hamilton.
Finalists will compete for the "Golden Gumboot," a share of over $15,000 worth of prizes and the title, with contests including fencing, cattle work, dog obedience and cheerleading.
This year they will have to face off against eight female challengers in the first "Ladies Afternoon" in a test of rural skills and knowledge.
Fieldays event coordinator, Lianne Dunbar, said she was confident that the nation's rural bachelors were well represented by the finalists.
They are:
Andrew Gutsell, 22, tractor contractor, from Franz Josef; Mark McCauley, 27, fencing contractor, Hamilton; Alex van Heuven, 23, sharemilker, Matamata; Andrew Wiffen, 22, assistant production manager, Waiau; Matthew Wade, 31, assistant farm manager, Te Awamutu; Michael Short, 25, sheep and beef farmer, Palmerston North, Tim van de Molan, 25, builder, Matamata, Grant Mitchell, 37, dairy farmer, Morrinsville.
