Hang on to your pitchforks Dunedin, your are about to be overrun with young farmers.

At least you will be in May of next year when the The National Bank Young Farmer Contest Grand Final 2012 comes to town – for the first time since 1986..

Originally the Contest was to be held in Christchurch, but following the recent earthquakes, a decision was made to relocate to Dunedin.

New NZ Young Farmers National Chairman, Paul Olsen says Canterbury has suffered enough recently, and while they would love to bring the event to Christchurch, it was felt 2012 was too soon to impose on the city, and Dunedin was the obvious choice.

The AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg Grand Finals will also take place in Dunedin. AgriKidsNZ is the primary school version of the Contest, and TeenAg is aimed at secondary school students and is modelled on The National Bank Young Farmer Contest.

District Finals for the 2012 Contest season are due to begin in October, with Regional Finals kicking off in February.