The two teams will be up against 19 others vying for the title. The event runs alongside the Junior Young Farmer and the FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand finals — both also stacked with competitors from Mid Canterbury.
The AIS Farmers, made up of Year 8 pupils Flynn Lovett, Flynn Chudleigh and Flynn Tait of Ashburton Intermediate and Hinds Hustlers, made up of Year 8 pupils, Ebony Groves and James Sheppard and Year 7 pupil Sophie Sheppard.
James and Ebony are veterans among the youngsters as they represented Hinds at the grand final in Invercargill last year.
All the pupils said they were drawn to AgriKidsNZ because of the team work, their love of farming and ‘it’s lots of fun’.
"We are working together doing what we love," Flynn Lovett said.
In preparation for the final both teams have been searching relevant websites, visiting farms, talking to businesses about health and safety, and generally grilling parents for information.
A week before the competition the teams are given a tips and tricks sheet to aid their preparation.
In order to get to the grand final, the teams travelled to Woodbury for the Aorangi Regional final where they completed a series of modules during the day.
One standout was the motorbike challenge.
"We had to check over a motorbike to make sure it was safe to ride. Check the oil, fuel, clutch and pumped up tyres," Flynn Chudleigh said.
James Sheppard said this team excelled in the rock module set by Lincoln University.
"You had to know all your igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks, where they belong in the earth and where they came from," James said.
While others made light work of a tent challenge.
Flynn Tait said they had to put a bushbuck tent up, take it down and put it away in the bag.
Knowing the cost to compete soon adds up, all six contestants have spent their time fundraising and visiting potential sponsors.
Ebony said the Hinds Hustlers raised money by picking and selling pine cones, holding a firewood raffle and selling burgers on Fridays at school.
Both teams have amassed an impressive list of sponsors, with Ashburton Intermediate offering gold and silver options.
Intermediate school principal Brent Gray said it was great to have pupils who represented the school doing something they were keen on.
"I have managed to get to a few finals days in the past and it’s a really good place for people to see the rural sector in action, Mr Gray said.
"They can learn how farming has changed so much since we where young and how multifaceted and skilled farmers have to be."
