Entries open for Rural Ambassador

National MP Tim van de Molen won the Australasian competition in 2012. Photo / Supplied

Entries are being sought for the Rural Ambassador of the Year award.

It recognises excellence among people aged 20 to 30, who are active within the A&P showing movement.

The award is organised by the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand (RAS), in partnership with Harcourts New Zealand.

The Harcourts-RAS Rural Ambassador Award is a national-based competition dating back to the 1990s.

Since 2010, the winner has represented New Zealand in a transtasman competition.

Tim van de Molen, winner of the Australasian competition in 2012 and a current National MP, said the competition was a great way to gain some experience, meet people and ''test yourself''.

''The RAS has traditionally played a strong role at the grassroots level of agriculture and offers opportunities for benchmarking yourself through competitions and building your network within the industry.''

Entry forms can be found at www.ras.org.nz.

Entries close on March 31.