Listen: Couple finds love at Fieldays

Mike and Ryley (right) with their wedding party on their wedding day. Photo / Waipa Post

When Mike Short entered the Fieldays Rural Bachelor of the Year competition back in 2009, he wasn't expecting to meet his future wife.

Short spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay and Rowena Duncum about his first encounter with Ryley McGougan saying the timing wasn't perfect, but it all worked out in the end.

"She had a boyfriend and I was clearly a bachelor," says Mike.

The pair met up the following year at Fieldays where Mike returned to judge the Rural Bachelor competition and a (now single), Ryley was working for Mystery Creek coordinating events.

Four years later the two were married at Ryley's parents' dairy farm in Gordonton.

Ryley confirms Mike's version of events but adds it wasn't love at first sight, saying she fell for his charms only "after he had a haircut."

Nine years after that fateful meeting the Shorts now have a young family and a 105ha, 200-cow dairy farm west of Feilding.

The Rural Bachelor of the Year competition is now called the Fieldays Rural Catch competition as this year includes both female and male contestants. Ryley and Mike say they will be keeping an eye on how the competitors fare this year.

Listen below: