North Otago dairy farm worker Kerry Watson is the only woman in the field. Photo / Supplied
North Otago dairy farm worker Kerry Watson is the only woman in the field. Photo / Supplied
Eight contestants will gather in Oamaru early next year for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Aorangi regional final.
The event will take place in conjunction with the North Otago A&P Show, at the Oamaru Showgrounds on February 23.
Several of the finalists have competed before at this level.
One of the newcomers is the only woman in the field - North Otago dairy farm worker Kerry Watson, 27. She told Central Rural Life she was not too worried about the physical challenges.
She has worked at a harness racing stable, the Five Star Beef feedlot, and a veterinary clinic, and taught horse-riding at a United States summer camp.
Her foray into dairy farming was unplanned - she agreed to fill in on an Enfield farm for a fortnight, then stayed three years. She took up her current job at Five Forks in June, but is not interested in becoming a sharemilker.
''Dairying's not really my passion.
''I won't take it any further. I'll do it as long as I do it.''
Watson will represent the Five Forks Young Farmers Club at the Aorangi regional final, alongside clubmate Alan Harvey (28). The agricultural consultant has returned home to Oamaru after being an Otago-Southland finalist the last two years and a Tasman finalist before that.
Campbell Sommerville (left) Ezekiel Turner and Billy Dowle are representing the Methven Young Farmers Club. Photo / Supplied
The Methven Young Farmers Club has contributed three contenders: Campbell Sommerville, Ezekiel Turner, and Billy Dowle.
Sommerville, 25, was an Aorangi finalist last year. The arable farmer is following in the footsteps of his father, Baden, who was runner-up in the 1991 grand final.
Turner, 26, is a stock manager at the 3800ha High Peak Station in the Rakaia Gorge. He was raised on sheep, beef and dairy farms in Gisborne and Canterbury and has harvested crops in Western Australia.
Dowle, 26, farms across the Rakaia River from Mr Turner and was encouraged by him to sign up for the competition. Dowle is a stock manager at Redcliffs Station, which runs about 3800 merino ewes and 240 Angus cows.
Adam Judd (left) and William Ellis are representing the Timaru Young Farmers Club. Photo / Supplied
Two finalists from the Timaru Young Farmers Club are finalists for a second year. Adam Judd, 28, the assistant manager on a 720-cow Pleasant Point dairy farm, has a Bachelor of Science degree and is learning to speak Spanish.
William Ellis, 28, was the 2014 Registered Master Builders Carters Apprentice of the Year for Hawke's Bay-East Coast and has become a sheep and beef farmer.
Hinds Young Farmers Club member Josh McAtamney. Photo / Supplied
The eighth finalist, another returning from last year, is Hinds Young Farmers Club member Josh McAtamney. Having reached the age limit of 30, this is the final attempt for the Carew contract milker and bull fattener.
