Rural talent on display in Lincoln

Rural talent on display in Lincoln

8 July 2014

Every year New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) members from across the country come together to catch up, cheer on their Grand Finalist at the ANZ Young Farmer Contest, compete in the clay target shooting, fencing and stock judging national finals and attend the Annual General Meeting.

The top scoring competitors from the regional levels represented their regions as they battled it out for top place at the finals in Lincoln University, Friday 4 July.

The winner of the Gun City Clay Target Shooting Final was Waikato/Bay of Plenty’s Jeffrey Benson of the Hamilton City Young Farmers Club followed by Isaac Billington of the South Waikato Club and in third place was Otago/Southland representative, Brendon Clark of the Tokomairiro Club.

The overall winner of the CRV Ambreed Stock Judging Final in the Young Farmers category was Lucy Burrows from Christchurch City Club. James Robertson from Hamilton Boys High School took out the TeenAg category.

The Farmlands Fencing Final saw Davey Green and Mark Lambert of Taranaki/Manawatu’s Marton Club take first place with James Bryan and Sam Burton from the Cambridge Club in Waikato/Bay of Plenty in second and East Coast representatives Cam Rolston and Joe Rolston, Ashley Clinton/Norsewood Club, rounding out the top three.

At the NZYF Annual General Meeting, Saturday 5 July at Lincoln University, members re-elected Chairman and Pleasant Point dairy farmer Cole Groves for another term.

Newly elected member, James Booker was voted in for a two year term. Mr Booker, also a dairy farmer, is based in the Waikato at Te Aroha. He belongs to the Hauraki Club, was previously the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Vice-Chairman and initiated the Waikato hub of the Rural Business Network.

Mr Booker completed a Masters of Applied Science from Lincoln University and is a graduate of the Kelloggs Rural Leadership programme. He previously worked in the United Kingdom as a Market Analyst in the English red meat sector.

Three members of the NZYF board have stepped down this year.

Barbara Kuriger, a strategic partner, has joined the National Party hoping to win the seat for Taranaki-King Country at this year’s general election. Sarah von Dadelszen, an independent director, is now a board member of AGMARDT and Cam Lewis, NZYF Vice-Chairman has chosen to step down at the end of his term due to family and business commitments and would like to focus his governance roles with NZYF closer to home. Mr Lewis was also recently appointed Chairman of Horowhenua Economic Development Board.

ENDS

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