West Coast sharemilker Wiffen makes FMG Young Farmer of the Year final again

Andrew and Kate Wiffen celebrate Andrew's win in the Young Farmer of the Year Tasman region final in Templeton, near Christchurch, on April 7.

West Coast dairy farmer Andrew Wiffen will compete in his second FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand final.

The 30-year-old won the Tasman regional final for the second year in a row at Innovation Park in Templeton, near Christchurch, on April 7 to win a place in the 50th-anniversary grand final in Invercargill in July.

''I'm stoked to be heading to grand final again. It's an amazing experience,'' Mr Wiffen said. ''It'll be a chance for me to rectify errors I made last year.''

Andrew Wiffen, of the West Coast, drills a hole for a fence post.

The 50/50 sharemilker from the Grey Valley placed third in last year's grand final in Feilding.

Mr Wiffen also won the Ravensdown Agri-Skills Challenge, the Agmardt Agri-Business Challenge and the Meridian Energy Agri-Knowledge Challenge.

Culverden's Jono Satterthwaite was surprised to finish second in just his first regional final.

Stewart Watson, of Golden Bay, considers his riparian planting options as part of an environmental module. Photos: David Hill

''It was a bit of a shock,'' he said.

''It was really good. I never expected to win it, as Andrew Wiffen has been a grand finalist and was the favourite, so I had no expectations.''

Mr Satterthwaite said he was able to draw on his old flatmate, seven-time regional finalist and two-time grand finalist Reuben Carter, for inspiration.

Megan Hands, of Darfield, works on a module run by Ravensdown as part of the Agri-Skills challenge

''I've attended the grand final four times just to watch and I've gone in a few fencing competitions, but until you compete at this level you don't really know what it's involved.

''It was a learning experience and I'm really happy with the result.''

The 26-year-old hopes to compete again, but is unsure what the future holds.

He had been working on an irrigation project on his family's 1048ha sheep and beef farm at Culverden, but was keen to experience working in the sheep industry in the United Kingdom and learn about other New Zealand farming systems ''while I am still young''.

Culverden's Jono Satterthwaite completes a pop quiz on bullying as part of an employment obligations module, while Tasman region chairwoman Ash Campbell looks on. He placed second overall.

Dunsandel farm consultant Simon Ferguson placed third and won the Massey University Agri-Growth Challenge, while Oxford farmer Roscoe Taggart won the Agri-Sports Challenge.

LIC farm solutions manager Vanessa Robinson, of Burnham, won the award for highest-placed female contestant.

With Mr Wiffen competing in his last regional final, Mr Satterthwaite said there would be plenty of competitors lining up to take over the regional title next year.

Contestants of the Young Farmer of the Year Tasman region final: Martin Bates, Vanessa Robinson, Jono Satterthwaite, Andrew Wiffen, Megan Hands, Stewart Watson, Roscoe Taggart

''The last three regional winners have won it two years in a row, so there's only been three winners in the last six years.

''But the competition isn't going to get any easier next year because he's [Andrew] gone. It will be someone new winning it and I know Roscoe and Simon will be keen to have a serious go at it.''

Mr Carter won the Tasman regional final in 2013 and 2014, and Culverden's James Hoban won in 2015 and 2016.

Central Rural Life