Instead of running the usual district contests, two qualifying competitions will be held at the Selwyn Spring Show at Leeston on Saturday, October 19, and the Rangiora Show on Saturday, October 26.
''It used to be that you had to compete in your district contest, but this year we've opened it up with two events - Tasman South and Tasman North,'' New Zealand Young Farmers Tasman region junior vice-chairwoman Ashleigh Foley says.
''We want to do our bit for the national office to raise the profile of our event, which we are all proud of.''
Ashleigh, a Waimakariri young farmers' club member, will be competing at the Tasman South contest at Leeston as part of a duo with Tasman senior vice-chairwoman Cheyenne Wilson, and will be organising the Tasman North contest at Rangiora.
She says it is becoming a challenge to run local district contests in some areas due to a lack of numbers.
While the Christchurch district is strong, last year's North Canterbury district contest attracted just 10 members, while the only remaining West Coast club, Grey Valley, has folded; and there are just two clubs in the Nelson-Marlborough district, Golden Bay and Renwick.
There are five clubs in the Christchurch district (Banks Peninsula, Christchurch City, Dunsandel, Lincoln University, and West Melton) and four in North Canterbury (Amuri Basin, Hurunui, Kaikoura and Waimakariri).
Entries close on the Monday before the contests and competitors can enter as an individual or as part of a duo, which is non-competitive.
Last year, Amuri Basin young farmers' club member Georgie Lindsay went on to become the first woman to win the Tasman regional final and earn a place in the grand final.
''Georgie was going to enter as a non-competitive (entry) in the North Canterbury district contest, but she changed her mind and she went all the way. So it's definitely worth giving it a go,'' Ashleigh says.
She says the Tasman North contest will also have a teenag competition to encourage high school students to have a go.
''It's not a qualifying competition, but it will give them some experience and the opportunity to meet some of us.
She hopes the involvement with the A&P shows will forge closer ties. It's been really cool working with the Rangiora Show committee.
''They have been so amazing. A lot of them are ex-young farmers and we are their future members.
''And we wanted to have it at the Rangiora Show to show off our competition to townspeople as well, because you don't have to be a country bumpkin to get into Young Farmers or have a career in agriculture.''
Four finalists from each contest will qualify for the Tasman regional final being held in Christchurch on March 28. Christchurch is also hosting the grand final in July. To enter, go online to fmgyoungfarmercontest .co.nz/district-contest-and-skills-day-/.
