Michael Lilley from the Tasman Region has won The National Bank Young Farmer Contest Grand Final this evening (May 26th) in Dunedin.

It was a case of second time lucky for the 26 year old rural veterinarian from Murchison after he last competed at Grand Final level in 2009 in Palmerston North.

Mr Lilley took out the prestigious title after three days of gruelling competition. The Technical Day at Invermay Research Station on Thursday tested the brain power of the Contestants while the more physical side of things took place at the Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday at the Practical Day.

When asked what it mean to be crowned the 2012 Contest Champion Mr Lilley said “it is huge. It‘s a big title around rural New Zealand. It’s a big honour and quite an achievement.”

Nearly 1000 people attended the Televised Evening Show and Ball at Dunedin’s Edgar Centre which was broadcast live on TVNZ 7 with delayed coverage on TV ONE at 10pm.

Mr Lilley was joined by wife Kelly onstage after the big win. 2012 is a big year for the couple who are expecting their first child this year. Michael thanked Kelly for keeping him organised leading up to the final. He also thanked his parents for their support saying “growing up they taught me everything I know about farming .”

Mr Lilley said that  the title will give him the confidence to keep moving forward in the agriculture industry. He hopes to combine both his work as a vet and as a farmer in the years to come.

The win wasn’t expected for Mr Lilley who thought that he “came a bit unstuck on the Technical Day,” however; the technical challenges were where he did best. He won both the AGMARDT Agri-business Challenge and the Lincoln University Agri-growth Challenge. He took away a $15,000 AGMARDT scholarship and a $8,000 conference package from Lincoln University.

Mr Lilley wasn’t the only big winner on the night however. Otago/Southland’s Pete Gardyne also did well by taking out the Practical Challenges – the Ravensdown Agri-Skills and Silver Fern Farms Agri-sports. Mr Gardyne received a farm technology package from Silver Fern Farms worth $8.000 along with $14,000 worth of goods and services from Ravensdown.

Mr Lilley will be taking the Cloak of Knowledge and the Contest trophy back to the West Coast along with a prize pack valued at $70,000 which included $15,000 thanks to The National Bank, a Lincoln University scholarship for study towards a Specialist Masters of Professional Studies or entry to the Kellogg Programme valued at $5,000, Ravensdown quality products and services to the value of $7000, an AGMARDT scholarship towards a career development programme valued at $2,000, a farm technology package courtesy of Silver Fern Farms valued at approximately $15,000, a Honda TRX420FPM power steered four wheel drive manual ATV and a Honda EU20 inverter generator with a combined value of $18,000, a range of Swanndri clothing to the value of $1,000 and a selection of quality outdoor power equipment from ECHO to the value of $7,000.

The TBfree New Zealand Young Farmers 2012 National Conference was also held this week with delegates from all around the country coming to Dunedin for workshops, the Annual General Meeting, a bus trip and more.

The AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg 2012 Grand Finals also took place in Dunedin yesterday. Prue Buckingham, Jessica Dermody and Lachlan Crosbie from Tokonui took out the top spot in the AgriKidsNZ Competition. Tom Monteath and Danny Brooker from Chirstchurch Boys’ High School were the 2012 TeenAg Champions.

For more information go to www.youngfarmercontest.co.nz

(taken from YF press release cos I’m too busy going through all my photos…….)

In a change to the Contest this year, all of the Technical and Practical Day Challenge winners were announced at The National Bank Sponsors Dinner. After a traditional Haggis ceremony, host Dougal Stevenson invited Contest Sponsors to come forward and award trophies to the Challenge winners so far.

Tasman’s Michael Lilley took away the Agri-sports, Market Innovation and Strategic Business Challenges. Pete Gardyne was the winner of the Agri-skills and Community Footprint Challenges. The Head to Head was won by Waikato/Bay of Plenty’s Sam Williams, the Human Resources Challenge went to East Coast’s Tony Dowman and Brad Lewis was the winner of the Interview Challenge.

Northern’s Katherine Tucker and Aorangi’s Andrew Scott may not have take out any of the individual Challenges, but speaker and 2011 Contest Champion Will Grayling urged them to not give up. He said “the only section I won last year was the speech challenge and that was only by point three of a point – so it can still be done.”

Mr Grayling also spoke about his year as Contest Champion saying that it has given him the opportunity to rub shoulders with leaders in the agriculture industry and to learn from their experience. He said he was impressed with the way the Grand Finalists had handled themselves so far and wished them luck ahead of the big reveal tonight at the Televised Grand Final Evening Show.

I shall write on word and copy and paste….

here it comes….

The winning AgriKids team from Tokanui, Southland

Otago/Southland competitor Pete Gardyne in the first aid section (very realistic and officially my Photo of the Day!)

Katherine from Northland in the forestry module – you would think the media thought women didn’t farm by the way they’re hanging around poor Katherine. She’s getting the contest some awesome publicity and she certainly held her own with the boys today!

and here they all are after one of the head to head challenges. What a good group of Young Farmers!

here’s the new Contest compere – welcome Craig Wiggins!

and the first home in today’s Agrisport – Tony Dowman from the East Coast (actually won on points by Tasman’s Michael Lilley – I think – it’s been a long day!)

And here’s the winner of the speeches the otber night…. Pete Gardyne from Otago/Southland

Jake Vargo from Vodafone and Colin Slade the rugby player ( ) at the Vodafone Speeches Dinner giving away phones (in spectacular style). In case you were wondering, it was dress up – theme The Great Outdoors (oh and the guy with the mike told a joke and won some tickets… can’t remember the joke though….)

The magnificent seven, this year six guys and one girl, were presented to the crowd by new contest compere Craig Wiggins (a well known voice for rodeo fans). Then they dressed volunteers from the crowd with a wool fadge – complete with gladwrap and insulation tape.

And dress they did!

Andrew Scott from Aorangi

Compere Grant Wiggins checks out one of the ensembles!

The magnificent seven in Wall Street Mall, Dunedin

From the Contest’s press release this afternoon:

Dunedin City Councillor Andrew Noone opened proceedings on behalf of Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull. Mr Noone said he was delighted that Dunedin was chosen to host the event as the city is “right behind the rural sector.”

Contest Chairman Bevan Proffit made special mention of the Contest Sponsors; “their involvement helps develop our future leaders.” Mr Proffit also wished all seven Grand Finalists the best of luck; “give it your all and may the best person win.”

2011’s Contest Champion Will Grayling had some advice for this year’s crop. “It’s a high pressure week for the Contestants. They need to manage themselves and the pressure of the week – that’s what will influence the outcome.”

The Technical Day is to be held tomorrow at the Invermay Research Station. Friday plays host to the Practical Day of the Contest at the Forsyth Barr Stadium. The Contest Champion will then be announced at the Edgar Centre during the Televised Grand Final Evening Show which screens live on TVNZ 7 at 7.05pm on Saturday 26th May.

To qualify for the Grand Final each of the seven Grand Finalists had to first win their respective Regional Finals earlier this year. Four Contestants are  returning to Grand Final level in 2012; Otago/Southland’s Pete Gardyne, Sam Williams from the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Region, Tasman’s Michael Lilley and Andrew Scott from the Aorangi Region.  Katherine Tucker is Northern’s representative and only the third female to ever compete at Grand Final level. Rounding off the field is Tony Dowman from the East Coast Region and Taranaki/Manawatu’s Brad Lewis.

This year’s top Young Farmers are competing for the title of 2012 Contest Champion along with a generous winners prize pack valued at over $70,000 including a four wheeler,  cash, fertiliser…. and new sponsor Silver Fern Farms is giving a technology package worth $15,000!

Don’t worry, more sponsors will be mentioned over the next three days… someone once asked me how much it cost me to sell my arm. I was wearing a YF Contest shirt at the time which had the prize sponsors down one arm.  Boy did that person get their pedigree. Without sponsors like these and people to recognise them and wear their logos, events like the Young Farmer of the Year would not exist as they do.

Fist pump to sponsors everywhere!

Time for bed, technical day tomorrow.

Seven brains will be severely overused this time tomorrow.

As many Young Farmers around the country are partaking in awesome road trips to gather in Dunedin, I am sitting in Palmerston North Airport ready to wing my way there.

I remember going to national conference in about 1998 on the train from Palmerston North. It was such a fantastic trip – favourite moments: sending Pat running to the Liquorland in Timaru from the train station because we ran out of Tui (or did someone deliver it…. it had been a long trip) and playing all sorts of drinking games on the journey.  We picked up all manner of Young Farmers on the way.

Then there was the Mt Cook conference where the Ballance Club boys travelled on their .. there’s a name for it…. little motorbike scooter thingies.. mud bugs, something like that.

Anyway…. here I am on the way to the 42nd (I think) Grand Final of the National Bank Young Farmer Contest.

I will send you more details as we go – links to websites where you can find out who they are and what they’re up to, as well as photos from their endeavours.

It’s gonna be a long week

Formerly known as the Suzy in Suzy’s World, now this lovely lady does a radio show on community stations called The Great Big Kids Show (7am-8am Sunday mornings).

I am telling you this because I heard an ad on the radio a few weeks ago calling for children who were interested in co-hosting one of the shows with Suzy at our very own Central FM in Waipukurau. Lachlan said “yes” without hesitation. When he was selected, I told him I was proud of him for being willing to try something he didn’t know much about. “Mum,” he replied, with a voice dripping with more wisdom than a kid should have… “You never get anywhere in life without giving things like this a go.”

So we went. He did it, loved it and we will all be listening this Sunday.

Here’s a link to a list of participating radio stations if you’re keen to pop in for a listen.

As well as helping Suzy and another co-host Trevor with shoutouts, birthday calls and talking about his school and his soccer, they did a segment on Mother’s Day (goes to air May 13). The thing I’m not so keen on? Lachlan also telling the nation about my milestone birthday that very day.

Happy Birthday to me

and Happy Mother’s Day in advance - love you very much Mum.

Would I? In a heartbeat. Writing is my passion but I would love to not worry about getting paid for it. Penning a novel would be first on my list… and you know what… it wouldn’t matter if no-one published it! What am I saying? I would publish it. Who would buy it? Doesn’t matter!(My Mum would).

So Trev from Te Kauwhata is no longer working at the local supermarket. Are you surprised? You shouldn’t be.

He was probably genuine when he said he wanted to keep working there because he loved it, but hey, when your phone number is smaller than your bank balance (hehe I love that, his words though, not mine) you can’t expect to continue living life like you did yesterday.

Here’s a story from the Stuff website about Trev not having been back to work since the big win. He’s bought a car, he’s bought his mum a car and no-one knows where he is (well, at least the town of Te Kauwhata isn’t telling).

I’ve given away my secrets. If the big lotto win ever comes my way, everyone will know it was me.  My family and community will be so flush!

Shiny new cars will suddenly appear at my sisters’ houses.  One will open her farm bank account to discover the mortgage is gone. Another will have some land to add to the five acres they’ve just bought, another will get the luxury cruise around the world she’s dreamed of.

My tennis club will have all astro courts…  flood lit! The school will have a new bus, new books, new … well, you name it, the list goes on.

But it’s all a dream isn’t it.  But I am in with a chance. I do buy the occasional ticket (not like the joke about the girl who keeps praying to win lotto, over and over she prays, until one day there’s a clap of thunder right next to her ear and a voice says “can you at least buy a bloody ticket!!”)

Right now, I would welcome winning $10 on an Instant Kiwi. It wouldn’t allow me to quit my day job but it would make me smile.

I love this quote by Jim Hopkins, which I found on a fellow blogger’s site (thanks Ele).

. . . If honour and duty and service and responsibility and courage and unity were values championed every day, this would be a happier, more harmonious and stronger nation.

Rediscovering that language is not just an opportunity for the leaders of our main political parties, it’s an obligation.

If we want a new focus, it’s easily found. The values of Anzac Day are there, waiting. We just need to be brave enough to rediscover them. Age does not weary those values – it’s the rest of the year that condemns us.  Jim Hopkins

Here are some photos from the service at Takapau, with special thanks to Takapau RSA president Andy Kells for his continuing efforts.

If you’re close to Dunedin or in town for the National Bank Young Farmer Contest, don’t miss out.

NZ Young Farmers put out this release this morning:

License to operate: A regulatory barrier or market opportunity?

The AGMARDT Agribusiness Breakfast provides an annual forum to discuss issues of national interest to the rural community. This year’s theme is ‘License to Operate: a regulatory barrier or market opportunity?’ and includes presentations by Dr Andrew West, Bryce Johnson, Willy Leferink and Graham Stuart.

The AGMARDT Agribusiness Breakfast will be held on Friday the 25^th of May on Level 4 of the Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, commencing at 7.30am sharp and will be hosted by AGMARDT’s Chairman Jeff Grant.

Jeff Grant

“In setting the theme for this year’s AGMARDT Agribusiness Breakfast, we wanted to raise awareness within the farming community of an issue that is going attract increasing attention in the years ahead,” said Mr Grant.

“We have an excellent range of speakers who will each provide a different perspective on the theme. I hope the attendees will leave the event feeling better equipped to make up their own minds on whether a license to operate is a regulatory barrier or market opportunity.”

Dr Andrew West

Dr Andrew West, the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University, will provide a high level overview on the theme and discuss its future potential impact on farming. Bryce Johnson, Chief Executive of Fish & Game New Zealand, will then provide an insight on his organisation’s views on changing public attitudes and the challenges and opportunities this creates for the farming community.

Federated Farmers Dairy Chairperson Willy Leferink will provide a farmer’s perspective on this year’s theme. This will be followed by Sealord’s Chief Executive Graham Stuart who will discuss growing market opportunities built around actively pursuing environmentally friendly ways to undertake business.

The AGMARDT Agribusiness Breakfast is held in conjunction with The National Bank Young Farmer Contest and starts with a light breakfast at 7.30am sharp, followed by speaker presentations and then questions. The forum will conclude around 9.45am. Following the breakfast, attendees will be invited to watch New Zealand’s top young farmers compete in the Practical Challenge Day of The National Bank Young Farmer Contest.

If you would like to attend this event please go to www.youngfarmercontest.co.nz. Tickets are $30.00 each (+ booking fee), which includes breakfast. For more information about AGMARDT and its funding programmes visit www.agmardt.org.nz.