Young Farmer of the Year Athol New, originally from Whangarei, during a competition challenge.
Young Farmer of the Year Athol New, originally from Whangarei, during a competition challenge.
Two Whangarei schools shared the glory in the grand final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest, to be screened on TV One at 4pm on Sunday.
The winner of the national Young Farmer of the Year competition, Mid Canterbury farmer Athol New, credited his success in the dairy industry to his agriculture teacher when he attended Kamo High School, Terry Baker, who had encouraged him to head to Lincoln University and study for an agricultural commerce degree.
Andrew Martin and Grace Moscrip hold certificates recording their third placing in the TeenAg contest. Photo / NZ Young Farmers
And 17-year-old Kamo High student Andrew Martin, together with Grace Moscrip, 14, from Whangarei Girls' High School, took third place in the TeenAg final which accompanied the Young Farmer event at Timaru last week.
They were the only placed pair among three Northland teams in the TeenAg contest.
Success also eluded three Northland teams in the Agrikids finals at Timaru.
Kamo High principal Jo Hutt flew south last week to see Andrew and Grace in action and also watch Andrew's 15-year-old brother Brad take part in a fencing contest against competitors far older and more experienced.
While impressed with the "huge amount" of work done by the older teens, young Brad's efforts drew her admiration.
"He and that French guy [Clem Lafon, 24, secretary of the Whangarei Young Farmers Club] were competing against professional fencers," she said.
Brad's parents, Michele and Steve Martin of Matarau, had to get special permission allowing the boy to compete against fencers aged 18-31.
Both Brad and Andrew started Agrikids activities early, moving on to TeenAg. Michele said both boys took after their father, who was a Young Farmers' grand finalist in 2004.
Kamo High School primary industries teacher Terry Baker steers students into rewarding careers in agriculture. Photo / Kamo High School
Terry Baker, who moved from Okaihau College in 1994 to now lead Kamo High's primary industry studies, said the Martin boys had grown up doing farm work with their father and grandfather.
The school programme of agricultural courses provided an outlet and interest for them.
Similarly, 30-year-old Athol New had "gobbled up" the theoretical side of agriculture when he was at Kamo High.
"He was a sensible, bright character. He's used his talents to make a real success of himself," Mr Baker said, referring to other clever youngsters he had taught, including Grace Moscrip's brother Sam, who had attended Kamo High and was now studying agriculture at Lincoln University.
About 100 Kamo High Year 9-10 students were exposed to agriculture, horticulture and forestry lessons during two semesters this year, with about 30 Year 11, 15 Year 12 and five or six Year 13 students taking primary industries courses.
Mr Baker said he was glad the school could offer the academic background to help young people get into agriculture.
"It's a real worry when people think agriculture and horticulture are not technical."
Athol New now leads a team of over 10 staff at Purata Farms supplying independent milk company Synlait Milk.
