Mr Copland, from Waitane club, won the competition with 213 points, ahead of Nightcaps club member John White, with 203 points, Waitane club's Peter Gardyne with 196 points and Nightcaps club's Hayden Peter, who had 189 points.
This is his fourth attempt at a Young Farmers regional competition and the last time he was able to compete as he is 30 and the cut-off age is 31.
He competed in two contests in the Aorangi region as well as twice in the Otago/Southland region, placing second in three of those.
He and seven other finalists from Otago and Southland competed in eight challenges as well as two head-to-head competitions at the Tapanui Showgrounds during the day.
Challenges included baking, first aid, using a digger to fill a teacup from a teapot attached to the digger, and shearing.
They then took part in several rounds of questions at the West Otago Community Centre in the evening.
"I was pretty pleased to win," Mr Copland said.
"It was close all the way through."
He said he had done a couple of days' preparation before the final with the help of friends and family.
"Every time I learned something new."
He has about two months to sharpen up before the national title in Palmerston North on July 8 and has had several offers of help.
Mr Copland won $7700 in prizes, including a NHR125 two-wheel farm bike.
"I have been chasing the bike for a few years now. I was glad to get it."
NZYF contest operations manager Roz Lever, of Methven, was impressed with the event.
She said she was pleased to see about 300 people attend the practical competition and about 200 at the evening event.
"For a small town like Tapanui to get 300 people to the practical session is great when much bigger centres had nowhere near that turnout," she said.
The 2010 national final will be held in Gore.
