Waikato young farmers take on national challenge

NZ Young Farmers at Fieldays 2017. Photo/Tom Rowland

A competition which was born, died and then revived itself again in 2010 is in the middle of its 2017 season.

Young Farmers clubs across the country have been competing against each other to progress to the Young Farmers national debating final later this month in Palmerston North.

Last month, two teams fought for the position of North Island champion, one representing the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region, the other the Taranaki and Manawatu region.

It is not just the glory that pulls young farmers across the region to the debating table.

Casey Huffstutler, Senior Territory manager for the NZ Farmers believes that the contestants develop skills more important to them.

"The aim of the competition is to help up the skill of our members in public speaking, logic and argument skills," said Huffstutler.

Young Farmers itself started in 1927, where the first clubs were established in Feilding, with competitions stretching from debating to fencing.

A larger aim on the professional development aspect, the young farmer programme also involved financial management and business development, teaching real life skills to its members.

While providing real life skills, to some of its members like Trevor Knyvett it is all about the competition.

"It sounded like a great challenge, to pit myself against everyone else, I said it sounds good let's give this a ride," said Knyvett.

Young Farmers has brought Knyvett into the debating scene for the first time, representing Waibop he volunteered to lead the charge to try and take Waibop all the way to the final. Knyvett outlines it is not as easy as just getting up and having an argument with someone on stage.

"Trying to get your message across, and it's always a bit intimidating when there is a crowd right there."

But the challenges are far outweighed by the positives that Knyvett and the other young farmers gain by participating in these competitions.

"It's building that confidence in front of people, it is good value for what we are doing. It's also a good laugh as well and we get to make up some good yarns as we think of what to say."

It was not to be for Knyvett and the Waibop region however, as the Marton Young Farmers club from the Taranaki and Manawatu Region took out the North Island debate and secured a spot in the grand final against the South Island.