Youth prove farming skills in Hastings

Youth prove farming skills in Hastings

Local schools were out in full force over the weekend competing for the top spot at the East Coast AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg Regional Final in Hastings at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Showgrounds.

Wainuioru Hillbillies, Jess Long, Bella Freeman and Brooke Robertson from Wainuioru School took home the top honour in the AgriKidsNZ competition and Gracies Boys, Jack Butterick and Andrew Baxter from Wairarapa College were the winning team in the TeenAg event.

The competitions test skills, strength and stamina while introducing youth to the fun side of agriculture. Primary and high school students from all walks of life are welcome to join in.

Rounding out the top three for AgriKidsNZ was MISsiles, Patrick Jolliffe, Ben Carter and Bailey Morris in second place from from Masterton Intermediate School and third place went to The Cow Shed Crew, Nick Barrow, Julie Barrow and Trudy Barrow from Ruahine School and Dannervirke High.

AgriKidsNZ is open to children 8-13 years of age and they compete in teams of three while the TeenAg competition calls for high school students 13-18 years old, competing in pairs.

“Another great day out with a brilliant amount of teams entered, 29 for TeenAg and 17 for AgriKidsNZ,” commented Josie Hampton, AgriKidsNZ & TeenAg Project Leader. Several Regional Final events are nearing capacity which presents an exciting challenge for event organisers.

There was some fierce competition amongst the TeenAg competitors. Dannevirke Dynamic Duo, Daniel Thorstensen and Benjamin Telford from Dannervirke High School took home second place and in third was The Chicks, Lucy Collin and Megan Hassall from Iona College.

The competitions are structured into eight modules which can test anything and everything farm related. The top scoring seven teams continue through to the Race-Off challenge where contestants must work as a team and complete a series of tasks as fast as possible.

Top three teams from each Regional Final are invited to attend the 2014 Grand Final held in Christchurch, 3-5 July where they will battle it out for the national champion’s title.

For more information head to www.youngfarmers.co.nz

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