Kumeroa pupil named top Agri competitor

Jorja Fountaine

Jorja Fountaine from Kumeroa School near Woodville has been named the AgriKidsNZ competitor of the Year.

The Year 6 student said the hardest module was the hour-long written exam.

"Even though we were under a lot of pressure we kept calm and if we didn't know the answer we moved on," she said. "In the end it doesn't really matter where you place, just as long as you give it a go, have fun and enjoy yourself."

It's a decade since the first AgriKidsNZ Grand Final was held alongside the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final.

"This year we have had more entrants in the AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg competitions than ever before," said NZ Young Farmers chief executive Terry Copeland. "More than 1100 students took part in the two competitions at regional finals across the country."

TeenAg and AgriKidsNZ are part of the work of NZ Young Farmers to attract students into the agri-food sector. Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor was one of a number of MPs who attended the awards ceremony.

"You are all inspirational at every level. You have gone out of your way to push through the boundaries and learn more," he said.

TeenAg Grand Final:

1st: Angus Grant and Nick O'Connor. St Bede's College;
2nd: Matthew Halford and Finnigan Beamish. Napier Boys' High;
3rd: David Reesby and Levi Stewart. Feilding High School;

TeenAg competitor of the year: Matthew Halford. Napier Boys' High.

AgriKidsNZ Grand Final:
1st: Austin Watson, Henry Gray and Tim Connelly-Whyte. Ashburton Intermediate School ; 2nd: Eliane Craig, Charlotte Hurst and Ruby Shortus. Waimate High School;
3rd: Patrick Wellbrock, Jock Johnson and Max Williams. Tinui School;

AgriKidsNZ competitor of the year: Jorja Fountaine.