Winton sharemilker Steve Henderson is the best young farmer in Otago and Southland.
Mr Henderson (28) won the regional final of the ANZ Young Farmer Contest after an exhausting day competing in the Queenstown sunshine on Saturday.
He will now represent the region at the nationals in Taupo on July 6.
''She was a pretty big day against good competition, so it feels good to go through,'' Mr Henderson said.
''It's a relief and rewarding for all the effort. We were into it at eight and didn't knock off until eight.''
Mr Henderson, of the Waitane Young Farmers Club, was up against seven other young farmers from across the two provinces, ranging in age from 22 to 31.
They were put through their paces in a series of practical challenges, racing against the clock, as well as theoretical tests, and a quick fire buzzer quiz.
Practical tests included everything from measuring pasture length to building a wooden bench in half an hour and creating a video presentation.
The morning was spent competing in the grounds of Queenstown Primary School before moving across to the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games, at Queenstown Recreation Ground, for the highlight of the day _ a multi skill agri sports race.
Mr Henderson was first across the line, after competing consecutive challenges including wood chopping, laying an irrigation line, fixing a quad bike and setting a table, but on a countback he finished second.
''I was talking to one of the judges afterwards and apparently my table settings were all up the way _ they weren't too good.''
Mr Henderson sharemilks a herd of 320 on 112ha with wife Tracy, and is an active member of his young farmers club, as well as the Winton fire brigade.
It is the third time he has contested the regionals.
''A placing in the finals would be ideal,'' he said.
''You obviously want to give it your best shot but it's a learning experience as I've not been before.
''There was great camaraderie all day,'' he added.
''That's what being a young farmer's all about. You can compete all day and have a beer together at the end of the night.''
Mr Henderson says he will spend the next few months brushing up on practical skills.
''Being a dairy farmer, it's obviously the sheep, horticulture, all the stuff you don't do day to day.''
Mr Henderson won the agri skills section, the quiz and finished second in the agri sports race, winning by 15 points overall with 213 points.
Waipahi sheep farmer Logan Wallace (25), of Clinton Young Farmers Club, was second overall, while Riverton dairy farmer John White (30), of Nightcaps Young Farmers Club, finished third.
More than 250 farmers have battled it out for one of the seven places in the finals of the contest, now in its 47th year.
Organiser Luke McCrow said: ''Steve was cool, calm and collected in the heat and pressure and got the job done.''
