Monday, 15 July 2024 10:55

Dunedin up-and-comers take top award

Written by  Staff Reporters
2024 FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year winners Hayden Drummond and Shamus Young. 2024 FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year winners Hayden Drummond and Shamus Young.

A duo from Otago Boys’ High School in Dunedin have been awarded the FMG Junior Young Farmers of the Year.

Shamus Young (18) and Hayden Drummond (17) secured the title at the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final in Hamilton over the weekend.

Their quick thinking, practical know-how and farming skills earned praise from judges as they successfully navigated the high-pressure challenges thrown their way.  

“We’re really excited,” says Drummond. “We put a lot of work into this.” 

The competition was fierce, with 13 other teams from schools across Aotearoa rolling up their sleeves in a bid to secure the coveted title.

Young and Drummond won both the farmlet and face-off challenges and dominated the quickfire quiz rounds and practical farming race with their agricultural knowledge. Both have a background in fourth-generation farming. 

Young says he’s pleased the hard work has paid off.

“The competition is so broad, so you’ve got to do well at everything,” he says.  

“It’s always a good feeling to represent your region and school, and do them both proud,” Drummond says.

The FMG Young Farmer of the Year Contest is supported by FMG, Ravensdown, WorkSafe, Ministry for Primary Industries, Milwaukee, Woolworths, Honda, Lincoln University, Massey University, PTS Logistics, New Holland and Bushbuck. 

More like this

Rural insurer pays out $228m

Rural insurer FMG has paid out $228 million to communities impacted by two major weather-related events - Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods.

Featured

Crush death triggers on-farm traffic alert

Following a sentencing for a death at a South Canterbury agribusiness, WorkSafe New Zealand is calling on farmers to consider how vehicles move inside their barns and sheds.

Vegetable growing at risk

Horticulture New Zealand says the country’s ability to provide fresh, healthy vegetables is at risk unless the Government makes growing them a permitted activity.

Industry monitoring dry conditions

While it has been a great spring and summer for farmers, soil moisture levels in the Waikato are now plummeting as the dry February starts to bite.

National

Top dairy CEO quits

Arguably one of the country's top dairy company's chief executives, Richard Wyeth has abruptly quit Chinese owned Westland Milk Products…

DairyNZ seeks more cash

For the first time in 17 years, DairyNZ wants farmers to contribute more cash to run the industry-good organisation.

EPA's plan 'not good enough'

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is bolstering its frontline applications teams in a bid to reduce the timeframe for new…

Machinery & Products

New home for JCB Agriculture

Power Farming has announced a new chapter in its partnership with JCB, which having represented the UK-based company’s construction equipment…

CAT's 100th anniversary

While instantly recognised as the major player in construction equipment, Caterpillar Inc, more commonly known as CAT, has its roots…

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Ruth reckons

OPINION: Ruth Richardson, architect of the 1991 ‘Mother of all Budgets’ and the economic reforms dubbed ‘Ruthanasia’, added her two…

Veg, no meat?

OPINION: Why do vegans and others opposed to eating meat try to convince others that a plant based diet is…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter