Lincoln University Bachelor of Commerce (Agriculture) graduate, Jake Jarman, won the Taranaki Manawatu FMG Young Farmer of the Year on Saturday, the first of the qualifiers for this year’s grand final.
Lincoln University is again a sponsor of the contest, continuing to support New Zealand’s future farm leaders, not only in the senior competition, but also Junior Young Farmer and Agrikids.
Lincoln also helps prepare and run modules to test the entrants.
The contest has four strainers or categories: technology and innovation, environment, people, and food, all areas of teaching and research at Lincoln, highlighting the synergies the university has with the contest.
Jake, an ANZ relationship associate, won all four strainers.
“Being a first-time competitor might’ve played into my favour, as I just didn’t know what to expect, so I wasn’t too worked up about any one aspect, I just thought I’d give it a go, try my best and see what came of it,” he said.
He was looking forward to creating a ‘rigorous training plan’ to prepare for the grand final in July.
The event was held at the Awapuni Racecourse in Palmerston North on Saturday, and eight contestants chosen from three district contests battled it out in a series of modules, and time and points races.
A written exam, as well as a buzzer quiz at the evening show also tested the regional finalists’ knowledge.
Fellow Lincoln University alumni Kurt Armstrong and Ben Fraser also competed in the regional final.
Bachelor of Agricultural Science graduate Kurt is a sheep and beef manager on his family farm just out of Fielding, while Ben is a freshwater advisor with Horizons Regional Council.
Ben liaises with farmers to assist with freshwater regulations, riparian planting and fencing. He has a Postgraduate Diploma in Water Resource Management, a qualification jointly offered with the University of Canterbury.
Congratulations Jake.