Countdown to the Ultimate Rural Challenge

Countdown to the Ultimate Rural Challenge…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 22/04/13

The Grand Final of the 2013 ANZ Young Farmer Contest is just weeks away and the countdown is on. Tickets are still available for the different events, visit www.youngfarmers.co.nz for more details.

The Grand Final will take place between 16-18 May in Auckland at the Kumeu Showgrounds and SKYCITY, and there is sure to be something entertaining for all ages and interests.

The series of events kick off at 4.00pm, Thursday 16 May, with the Official Opening at Aotea Square. Here, spectators will be entertained with the first Head-to-Head Challenge and introduced to the seven Grand Finalists: Ian Douglas of Northern, Tim Van de Molen of Waikato/Bay of Plenty, Cam Brown of Taranaki/Manawatu, Aaron Passey of East Coast, Reuben Carter of Tasman, Matthew Bell of Aorangi, and Dean Rabbidge of Otago/Southland.

The gates open for the practical day at 7.00am, Friday 17 May, at Kumeu Showgrounds. Entry is a gold coin donation. This portion of the Grand Final encompasses all things agricultural and the tasks range from practical hands on tests, to theory and commercial elements of farming where the finalists must prove their business and management acumen in a human resource challenge and panel interview.

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

After the practical day the Grand Finalists will have a small reprieve and then it’s straight to the ANZ Grand Final Dinner at the Royal NZ Yacht Squadron. This black-tie event is where contestants will put their rhetoric talents to the test to deliver a convincing speech to the audience on a topic specific to each of them.

Saturday morning, 18 May, is reserved for a closed door exam and the evening is when the real excitement happens - the televised Grand Final Show and Celebration Ball. The audience will watch the contenders in the quick-fire question round as they make their final effort to claim the 2013 Champion title and impressive prizes worth over $60,000 including $10,000 cash thanks to ANZ, AGMARDT, Lincoln University, Ravensdown, Silver Fern Farms, Honda, Husqvarna and Vodafone.

The show will be televised on TV1 at 10.15pm Saturday 18th and on Heartland Sunday 19th at 8.30pm. It is estimated that there will be 300,000 viewers for the 33rd televised Grand Final Show of the ANZ Young Farmer Contest – the Ultimate Rural Challenge.

For more information and details on tickets visit the website www.youngfarmers.co.nz

ENDS

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