FMG Farmer of the Year prizes worth fighting for

1980 Young Farmer of the Year James Watt displays his prize at the time, a Ford 6600, alongside 2018 Young Farmer of the Year Logan Wallace with his prize, a New Holland T6050 plus with MX Loader, in Invercargill last week. Photo: Nicole Sharp

Just like the FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest, advancements have been made in the prizes the winners walk away with.

The New Holland T6050 Plus with MX Loader, which Logan Wallace received last week for winning the 2018 competition, is quite the change from the Ford 6600 which James Watt received for winning in 1980.

The pair, who are family friends and neighbours at Waipahi, were both on site at Agricentre South with their prizes, celebrating the 50th year of the competition and reflecting on the history.

Mr Watt said his tractor has been in Southland its entire life, and was now owned by Ray Lindsay.

Times had changed quite dramatically since he had won the contest, he said.

For Mr Wallace, the win still had not really sunk in, and he was still on cloud nine, he said.

As a child, he could remember his mother Alexa talking about Mr Watt's win in the contest.

''I remember seeing the tractor that was his prize.''

He received the New Holland T6050 Plus, as part of his prize package which also includes a Honda quad bike, cash, scholarships, equipment and clothing.

The overall grand final prize pool was valued at more than $155,000.

Southern Rural Life