The defending champion said he has had a busy year since winning last year's regional final and was looking forward to having a couple of days off to compete in the Tasman regional final being held at Templeton, near Christchurch, on Saturday, April 7.
Two weeks after competing in last year's grand final, the West Coast sharemilker got married and then it was straight into calving and the new milking season on his 200-cow, 90ha farm which is owned by his parents.
He said he has not had a day off since his honeymoon with wife Kate in October.
But at least he has a river running through his farm, so he can pursue his passion and catch some fresh West Coast whitebait for lunch.
After being born and bred in Marlborough, Mr Wiffen attended Christchurch Boys' High School and graduated from Lincoln University with a bachelor of commerce (agriculture) degree.
He has since worked on a mix of sheep and beef and dairy farms in North Canterbury, Mid-Canterbury and Marlborough, before settling on the West Coast three years ago.
He will be competing in his seventh and last regional final and expected have plenty of support from the small Grey Valley Young Farmers Club (YFC).
He said he expected to get some stiff competition from his fellow finalists, including Oxford's Roscoe Taggart, who was a young boarder at Christchurch Boys' High School when Mr Wiffen was a prefect.
''We boarded together, although he was a few years younger. I remember giving him a few detentions.''
While Mr Taggart is competing in his second regional final, his fellow North Canterbury representative Jono Satterthwaite, of Culverden, is making a first appearance at regional level.
There should be plenty of ''home-town'' support for the four Christchurch district finalists, including Charing Cross couple Vanessa Robinson and Martin Bates, farm environmental consultant Megan Hands and Dunsandel-based farm consultant Simon Ferguson.
Stewart Watson, who helped establish the Golden Bay YFC in 2016, will represent the Nelson-Marlborough district.
The Tasman regional final will be held at Innovation Park in Templeton, Christchurch, on Saturday, April 7.
Competitors will compete in two head-to-head practical challenges, complete a 50-minute exam, an interview and seven agri-skills modules to test their technical and physical ability.
The winner, who will compete in the 50th anniversary grand final at Invercargill in July, will be announced at the completion of an evening quiz hosted by comedian Te Radar at the Innovation Park Hall.
-By David Hill
