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This year, two Australian and six Kiwi bachelors will battle to win the Golden Gumboot.
Eight finalists have been named for the Fieldays Rural Bachelor of the Year contest.
This year, two Australian and six Kiwi bachelors will battle to win the Golden Gumboot.
The finalists are Brandon Sayliss (Taupo), Gus Thomas (Rakaia), Kaleb Foote (Tuakau), Oscar Smits (Reporoa), Paul Olsen (Manawatu), Peter Damen (Kindred, Australia), Jamie Havill (Ahaura) and Rob Ewing (Cape Paterson, Australia).
During a whirlwind week they will leave their comfort zone and challenge themselves, says Lee Picken, Fieldays head of events.
"We have a lot of talent in the young agri sector in New Zealand and Australia and this is an opportunity to showcase the future of the industry. These guys are passionate self-starters looking to upskill and progress their careers in an industry they're extremely proud of."
The competition starts with a road trip on June 13-14 from Auckland to Fieldays, completing challenges by NZ Young Farmers and Rural Women NZ and spending the night on a farm with a difference at Lavalla Estate in rural Tuakau.
Arriving at Fieldays, the Bachelors will have their skills, attitude and all-round charisma tested in competitive challenges such as speed fencing, blind dating, log splitting and building. A few fun twists will test the character of these rural men.
From Wednesday to Friday there will be four challenges a day, and a winner announced at the official prize giving on the Village Green on Saturday at 12pm.
Two titles are in contest: Rural Bachelor of the Year and People's Choice, and a prize pool of $20,000.
A function at Parliament on 7th October brought together central government decision-makers, MPs, industry stakeholders and commercial partners to highlight the need for strategic investment in the future of Fieldays and its home, the Mystery Creek Events Centre campus.
The iconic services building at National Fieldays' Mystery Creek site will be demolished to make way for a "contemporary replacement that better serves the needs of both the community and event organisers," says board chair Jenni Vernon.
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OPINION: Good times are coming back for the primary industries. From sentiment expressed at Fieldays to the latest rural confidence survey results, all indicate farmer confidence at a near-record high.
OPINION: The Federated Farmers rural advocacy hub at Fieldays has been touted as a great success.
Allan Freeth, chief executive of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has announced he is resigning.
A rare weather double-whammy has seen many South Island farmers having to deal with unseasonal snow while still cut off from power supplies after an unprecedented windstorm.
One of Fonterra's largest milk suppliers says Fonterra's board and management have got what they wanted - a great turnout and a positive signal from shareholders on the sale of its co-operative's consumer and related business.
Wool farmers are hoping that efforts by two leading companies to develop a more efficient supply chain would eventually boost farmgate returns.
Acclaimed fruit grower Dean Astill never imagined he would have achieved so much in the years since being named the first Young Horticulturist of the Year, 20 years ago.
The Ashburton-based Carrfields Group continues to show commitment to future growth and in the agricultural sector with its latest investment, the recently acquired 'Spring Farm' adjacent to State Highway 1, Winslow, just south of Ashburton.
