4 May 2006 Strong dairying influence as even field chases Waikato/BOP title

“This is a very even field, only three of whom have gone on to regional finals before, so anything could happen on the day.”

The practical and agrisport sections of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Final are being held at the Otorohanga Island Reserve with the evening quiz show at the Otorohanga College Hall, all to take place on May 6. As befits a strong dairying area, all bar one of the contestants has either grown up or now makes a living in this sector. 

The three competitors who have a slight edge because they have competed at regional level before are: Olin Greenan, a part-time Dexcel tutor and dairy farm manager from Taupiri; Blair Fine, assistant manager of a Cambridge dairy farm and Andrew Morris, who works on a Morrinsville dairy farm.

Bevan said that some of the less experienced candidates had shown great promise at district level. “Among them is Tim Van de Molen, who is only 23, but came through to win his district final.” A former scuba diving instructor, Tim is now the assistant manager of a Cambridge dairy farm. 

Others in the field include: Quin Lichtwark, who grew up on a dairy farm but now works in the field of agritech export for Pacific Basin Exports in Auckland; Waikato dairy farmer Hadleigh Germann and Jon Nicholls, from Murupara, who is a farm consultant for Farmwise. Rotorua-based Richard Fowler is an operations manager for Landcorp Farming and is involved in a wide range of farming operations.

All will be hoping to emulate the example of the Regional Manager Steve Hines, a former Grand Final winner who is now a prominent organiser of the regional event.

The winner will represent Waikato/BoP at the Grand Final, which will be held in Greymouth from July 6-8. The seven regional winners will be chasing a prize package worth $146,785 and the opportunity to be named as New Zealand’s 38th National Bank Young Farmer Contest champion.

Richard Fitzgerald, Bevan Profitt, or Steve Hines, National Bank Young Farmer Competition, New Zealand