The National Bank Young Farmer Contest is the flagship event for Young Farmers in New Zealand and is held in high esteem among the rural community, this is why every year up to 400 contestants battle it out for the top spot.

The idea behind the Young Farmer Contest emerged from a quiz show at an agricultural university in California. The show was conducted in a semi-slapstick style with a cow on stage and James Collins saw the potential for it to be turned into a prestigious event for Young Farmers.

Discussion on the feasibilty of the idea were held in 1968 and the Federations of Young Farmers Clubs discontinued a radio quiz programme in favour of working on the new event.

The first Regional Final was held in a small hall at the former Lincoln College. The hall was packed and contestants from throughout Canterbury answered questions about a bemused sheep that they had on the stage. The show was broadcast live on radio.

The first Contest, in 1969, was won by Gary Frazer of Tasman and featured a first prize of a return airfare to Australia and $500 cash. For the second year of the competition a tractor was added to the prize list and sponsorships have continued to grow ever since.

A segment of the first final was shown on regional television in Auckland and later on featured on Country Calendar, but it was more than twelve years before the Contest was televised live.

Practical field activities were added to the Contest after six years to ensure the Contest represented all-round farming ability.

Looking back, it is unlikely that the small group who planned that first Contest in 1969 would have anticipated the scale of success the Contest would achieve.

 

Click here to view the Grand Final Honours Board