Dairy is well represented after the first two of eight competitors were found for the Taranaki/Manawatu regional final of the 2016 FMG New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year.
The first of four district contests was hosted last weekend by the Central Taranaki Young Farmers Club near Stratford, where dairy farmers Michael McCombs and Blair Briscoe headed off 10 rivals to win their way through to the regional final in Hawera in April next year.
Mr McCombs is from the Marton Young Farmers Club and manages a dairy farm in Kimbolton, while Mr Briscoe is a contract milker milking 500 cows in coastal Taranaki in Okato.
Twelve contestants were put through their paces in Stratford on Saturday by judges assessing their agricultural knowledge and practical skills.
Mr McCombs was joined by fellow Marton Young Farmers Alana Booth, George Watson and James Beattie.