On-farm oasis for visitors
A North Otago dairy farming family have created an on-farm oasis that allows visitors the chance to cool off in the hot summer months.
The 28-year-old took first place at the Aorangi Regional Final in Oamaru on Saturday, February 28. Bell received a prize pack worth over $10,000 including cash, scholarships, and products and services.
This is not Bell's first attempt at the Young Farmer competition, having placed third in the 2013 Grand Final. He is determined to take out top honours in his final bid this year.
Held in conjunction with the North Otago A&P Show, the regional final saw a large crowd come to watch the contestants display the best of their farming knowledge and skill. Eight contestants competed in a variety of challenging modules, touching on all aspects of farming from practical hands-on tasks to theory and business components.
Second place went to 29-year-old livestock contractor, Sam Bryan, of the Foothills Young Farmers Club. He took home $2900 worth of prizes. He also took out top prize in the AGMARDT Agri-Business Challenge and the Silver Fern Farms Agri-Sport Challenge.
Third place went to dairy farm operations manager Athol New (29) and fourth place went to Caleb Strowger (23), of the Milford/Clandeboye Young Farmers Club.
Athol New also won both the Lincoln University Agri-Growth Challenge and the Ravensdown Agri-Skills Challenge.
The 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest features seven Regional Finals culminating in the Grand Final.
Bell will compete in the Grand Final in Taupo, 2-4 July where he will battle it out for the Champion's title and more than $270,000 in prizes.
