28 January 2004 Prize Sponsorship Part of Lincoln's Wide-Ranging Support for Agriculture

Lincoln University's role as a major prize sponsor of The National Bank Young Farmer Contest is an extension of the University's longstanding commitment of service to New Zealand agriculture.

The third oldest university in New Zealand, Lincoln celebrated its 125th jubilee in 2003. It is also the third oldest agricultural tertiary teaching institution in the Commonwealth.

It is therefore no idle claim that Lincoln taught New Zealand how to farm. It was founded 12 years before the country had a Government Department of Agriculture, and New Zealand's earliest formal scientific experiments in soil analysis and plant growth were carried out on the campus.

The tradition of teaching and research continues through to today and one clear measure of Lincoln's role in recent years has been the success of its graduates in the annual Young Farmer Contest.

Seventeen winners from the 35 contests held since the event started in 1969 have been ex-Lincoln students, with the latest title-holder, Robert Kempthorne, being the latest in the line.

To support the contest, and thereby support youthful talent in New Zealand's most economically important industry, Lincoln University provides a big chunk of the second prize in the Grand Final and it also contributes to the prize pool for each of the seven individual places.

To the line-up of prizes for second place, Lincoln offers a $5000 Tertiary Study Scholarship at the University, and with each of the seven Grand Final prizes, there are Lincoln University Bookshop vouchers to the value of $200.

In addition, in the lead-up to the Grand Final, the University also offers seven study scholarships for awarding to eligible District Final entrants.

"Lincoln University sees this icon New Zealand event as a showcase of agricultural talent," says Ian Collins of the University's Communications Group.

"By helping to sponsor the contest Lincoln University is supporting the rising generation of farmers and making sure, just as it does with its teaching, that New Zealand has the best possible talent available for its agricultural industries."

Support for The National Bank Young Farmer Contest is matched by many areas of commitment by Lincoln to the farming sector. The list of Lincoln's supporting activities includes –

• Farm field days, such as held on the University farms at Ashley Dene, Mount Grand and the Dairy Farm last year.

• Rural leadership courses such as the Kellogg Course.

• Helping host and organise annual events such as the South Island Dairy Event (SIDE) and the South Island Agricultural Field Days.

• Running the annual Lincoln University Foundation Farmer of the Year Contest.

• Providing travel grants for land-based overseas study projects through the Lincoln University Foundation.

• Running refresher and professional development courses for field officers and staff of agribusiness companies and other organisations.

• Running seed technology courses for producers, farmers and commercial representatives.

• Giving extension talks to farming groups and responding to information enquiries by phone and letter.

• Carrying out contract and levy-based research for commercial interests and primary industry sector organisations.

• Compiling and publishing books such as the Farm Technical Manual and the Farm Budget Manual.

"Together with the University's core business of teaching and research, this all adds up to a substantial contribution to the agricultural sector,” says Mr Collins.

Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand