It may have reached middle age but it’s lost none of its energy.
The Young Farmer Contest has been in existence for 42 years now and over that period has developed into the premiere agricultural challenge.
For the winner comes a great deal of mana and prestige in the industry and more than $100,000 in prizes with the total prize package toting up to over $350,000.
This year’s event is in Gore but the journey began in February with the first of the seven regional finals held all over the country. In fact, even before that the district finals attract more than 400 hopefuls which become 56 regional finalists and each of those 7 regional winners go through to the Grand Final.
It’s a helluva challenge too. They arrive in Gore Wednesday, get fitted out with their flash suits for the Saturday night final and on Thursday the competition begins – early.
Day One – Duration: 16 hours
The first day begins at sun up with a number of challenges testing their agribusiness and management abilities. They have to give an in depth presentation on a topic of their choice, there’s an interview with industry leaders to test their views on a number of issues and it goes well into the evening where they have to give a speech to the assembled guests.
They’ll get to bed at around 11 pm.
Day Two – Duration: 16 hours
Friday morning is the start of the practical skills test. Each contestant gets a mini farm to run and they have to complete a number of different tasks all designed to reveal the many and varied skills required to run a farm. They include everything from installing irrigation systems, to shearing a sheep, to solving human resources issues, administering first aid, and fixing a quad bike. Then there’s the great race, where all 7 finalists go head-to-head in an agricultural iron man. It lasts an hour and is the final draining practical test. But even then the boys have to front for the gala Grand Final dinner.
They’ll get to bed around 11 pm - if they’re sensible
Day Three – Duration: Seems like a lifetime!
They’ve been hard at it for two big days and the biggest ordeal is still to come - being put to the test on national television. The Saturday is all about waiting. Waiting for the 7:30 pm start time. In some ways that’s the hardest because you have all the time in the world to get more and more anxious about the outcome.
It is a very tough competition, an endurance test to beat them all, but at the end of it all, the winner takes $100,000 + prizes back to the farm, but even more importantly the prestige and mana of being the 42nd Young Farmer of the Year in this great farming land.
