Southern farmers have eye on prize

Glenavy's Arjan van't Klooster and Milton's Nigel Woodhead have the rest of the week to get their heads around all aspects of farming if one of them is to bring home a win at this year's FMG Young Farmer of the Year Award.

The men are the southern entrants in the annual competition.

Mr van't Klooster is the Aorangi Regional FMG Young Farmer of the Year, a title he won in Methven in February.

He said last week he felt confident about his practical skills, but admitted he felt like he had not done enough theory to feel comfortable.

''It's being able to do things quickly and efficiently, and the theory stuff I know, but I'm a bit slow. I see previous videos of people doing it - I can answer those questions, but not as fast as those other competitors

He was kept busy by his job as a lower-order sharemilker on his parents' 1200-cow property, plus running 600 cows with fiancee Kelsi Chamberlain on a 164ha farm they bought in 2015.

''It's not easy to take time away from your business and work.''

While he had no strategy in place to cool his nerves before the event, he would go for a run beforehand ''to clear my head''.

He did not want to let his family and supporters down.

The competition was a good way to ''benchmark'' his skills against those of other farmers and an opportunity to network, he said.

''Without competitions like Young Farmers, I'd be a wee hermit without much outside contact. It's a good way to reach out to those who might be isolated.''

Mr Woodhead, who leases a 400-hectare farm with his wife, Leanne, at Lovells Flat, near Milton, will also travel to Palmerston North for the July 6 finals after winning the Otago-Southland regional young farmer award in February.

He said he had been preparing for the competition by ''spending every spare second'' doing something in regards to the grand final.

He has been working on his fitness, studying newspapers and trends as well as paying attention to past grand finals in the hopes he will pick up some ''tips and tricks''.

The sheep and beef farmer will have to prepare a presentation, undergo exams and compete in ''agrisports''.

Mr Woodhead said he was ''pretty nervous'' but excited.

''There's still a lot to learn and a lot to do. I'm excited to get involved at the same time.

''It's basically putting me against the best of the best to test myself. It's always been the ultimate goal to get there.''

His advice for aspiring farmers was get involved and not to put things off.

''Just get stuck in now and have a willingness to learn and a willingness to ask questions.''

-Additional reporting by Samuel White