Final countdown for Ultimate Rural Challenge

Final countdown for Ultimate Rural Challenge

The showcase event of the rural calendar is only three days away!

The 2014 ANZ Young Farmer Contest Grand Final begins this Thursday 3 July, 4.30pm with the Official Opening at Lincoln University Library. Here, the top seven contestants will be introduced to the public and compete in their first head-to-head challenge.

The competition over the following two days is a testament to the sophistication of modern farming and level of skill and knowledge required to be successful in the field. The top seven young farmers have made it through to the Grand Final by competing in their local district competition and taking first place in their Regional Finals.

The Grand Finalists are: Reuben Carter (Tasman), Dean Rabbidge (Otago/Southland), Brad Lewis (Taranaki/Manawatu), David Kidd (Northern), Dwayne Cowin (Waikato/Bay of Plenty), Sully Alsop (East Coast), and James Davidson (Aorangi).

Gates open for the Practical Day events Friday 8am at Lincoln University grounds (cnr Farm and Weedons Rds, gold coin donation). Here, the contestants will be tested on all practical aspects of farming – anything and everything can be tested.

The fast paced Agri-sports Challenge at 2.30pm is undoubtedly the feature event of the day. Contestants compete side-by-side in a series of agricultural challenges in a test of speed, skill and stamina. They are racing not only against each other but against the clock, and must be mindful that most of the points are allocated for quality of workmanship, first to finish does not necessarily assure victory.

A number of events are on offer during the Practical Day and there is sure to be something entertaining for all ages and interests:

Watch the national finals for New Zealand Young Farmers competitions: Gun City Clay Target Shooting, Farmlands Fencing and the CRV Ambreed Stock Judging.

Cheer on the AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg Grand Finalists in their competitions and check out the Preliminary Round of the World Young Shepherds Challenge. The top two competitors will each win a trip to France to represent New Zealand at the final in October.

After the Practical Day the Grand Finalists will have just a few hours to prepare a speech for the ANZ Sponsors and Speeches Dinner held at Wigram Airforce.

Saturday evening is the final hurdle as the Grand Finalists are put under the spotlight at CBS Arena in Christchurch for the quiz show as they make their last effort to claim the 2014 Champion title and the impressive prize pack worth nearly $70,000 including $10,000 cash from ANZ, and other products, services and scholarships from AGMARDT, Lincoln University, Ravensdown, Silver Fern Farms, Honda, Husqvarna and Vodafone.

After the show, festivities will carry on into the evening with the black-tie Celebratory Ball at Addington Raceway.

The show will be televised Saturday on TV1 11.30pm, then replayed Sunday 6.45am TV1 and 9.30pm Heartland. Viewers can also tune in LIVE to TVNZ OnDemand Saturday 5 July from 6.30pm.

Keep up to date with live tweets #GrandFinal2014 @ANZ_YF_Contest

From 3-5 July it’s all things New Zealand Young Farmers – other events include the Annual NZYF Bus Trip, TBfree New Zealand NZYF Chairman’s Awards Dinner, the NZYF Annual General Meeting, and the AGMARDT Agri-business Breakfast.

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