NZ Young Farmers Norwood National Award Winners Announced

The winners of the New Zealand Young Farmers Norwood National Awards have been announced for the 2021 year.

Held at the Semenoff Stadium in Whangarei on Thursday night (7 July), the event was hosted by Jay Reeve and Duncan Heyde from ‘Rock Drive with Jay and Dunc’.

Club of the Year was awarded to Morinsville-Ngarua Young Farmers for multiple reasons, including their achievement of raising more than $10,000 for mental health charity Will to Live through a naked calendar.

Tasman’s Roshean Woods was awarded Service to Young Farmers and Aorangi's James Hurst took out an award for leadership.

Pendarves After Harvest Party (Aorangi) took out the best event, Fitzherbert Young Farmers (Taranaki Manawatu) won the health and safety award for its workshops with Kane Briscoe, and Inglewood Young Farmers rose to the top in membership growth.

Meanwhile, the coveted award for Best Region went to Otago Southland for its strategic direction and support provided to members, clubs and executive teams.

The Norwood Awards kicked off with the Tavendale and Partners debate going down between Auckland City and Lincoln Young Farmers.

Auckland City took out the debate, arguing for the moot that electric vehicles are the future of farming.

The winners of the NZYF Tournament Series were also announced after fiercely competing for the coveted titles earlier in the day.

Outgoing New Zealand Young Farmers Board Chair Kent Weir said it was a great night to celebrate the hard work of all their members after another tough year.

“The Norwood NZYF Awards are a great celebration of everyone and their successes and achievements both as individuals and collectively,” he said.

“Covid restrictions have disrupted multiple clubs and events so it was great to celebrate all our fantastic members, their achievements, and the fact our Young Farmers Clubs have been successful through a difficult two years.

Members are the heart of this organisation, their volunteer work, time and passion keep our grassroots Clubs alive and thriving.

Morrinsville-Ngarua Young Farmers’ passion and commitment is a standout example of how Clubs contribute to their community and the wellbeing of young people.

Roshean Woods’ contribution, time and energy she consistently puts into the organisation has been immense. As a young person not from a farming background, she demonstrates an amazing passion for people, Young Farmers and the food and fibre sector as a whole. It is people like Roshean who drive the success of the organisation and its members, and help to achieve goals at a personal, Club, regional and national level.

It was great to see James Hurst pick up a leadership award as well, his leadership of the Aorangi region through challenging times was exceptional and he really stepped up to the plate when it was needed.

Congratulations to Otago Southland, a passionate region of young farmers that always delivers.

Lastly a final congratulations to all our award winners and nominees whose selfless contributions don't go unnoticed and are greatly appreciated by everyone involved in Young Farmers.”

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