A former Napier Boys' High School student who completed hid secondary schooling in Wellington has carried off the top prize at the Smedley Station and Cadet Training Farm prizegiving.
Will van Bohemen, who wasn't from a farm, spent two years at NBHS before going to Wellington College, said Rob Evans, who manages the farm which caters for more than 20 first and second year cadets each year, on a sprawling property in the hills near Tikokino in Central Hawke's Bay.
Mr van Bohemen, who won the much-sought Affco scholarship to the UK, has a brother farming on the Rangitaiki Plains and is "very committed" to farming, said Mr Evans, after the prizegiving in front of more than 100 family and friends of cadets in the station's woolshed last Friday.
"Farming is definitely his passion," Mr Evans said.
In addition to the recognition for his all-round excellence, he claimed several other prices highlighting some versatility, from academic honours to the Ann and Paul Evans prize for best performances in sheep dog trialling at the Royal Show in Hastings and the Central Hawke's Bay Show in Waipukurau and the Deer Industry NZ prize and Brent Norwell Memorial Cup for his ability with deer and interest in the production of velvet.