Today in History

1969 First 'Young Farmer of the Year' chosen

Held at the South Pacific Hotel in Auckland, this competition was open to all members of the Young Farmers' Club. The inaugural winner was Gary Fraser from Swannanoa, Canterbury. The contest has since become an established part of the farming calendar.

From humble beginnings in 1969, the Young Farmer of the Year competition today attracts up to 400 young farmers each year. These entrants compete at district and regional level to win the right to represent one of seven regions in the grand final. The 2008 finalists competed for more than $160,000 worth of prizes with the winner, David Skiffington, scooping a prize package worth $82,185.

As of 2008 only two women have made it through to the grand final. Denise Brown was a finalist in 1981 while Louise Collingwood was a finalist in 2003, finishing as runner-up and again in 2004 when she finished third.

The grand final involves three days of physical and intellectual challenges that are designed to test the business skills of competitors as well as their ability to complete farming tasks. The place of technology in modern farming has become an important feature of the competition. The popularity of the event extends beyond the farming community and it is a televised event shown at primetime.

The first local Young Farmers' Club was formed in the Feilding District in 1927 and eventually a national organisation was established. Individual clubs offer members the opportunity to develop working and social networks with other young farmers under the age of 31.