Farmer blitzes competition

BEN CURRAN

YOUNG GUN: Growing up on a sheep and beef farm helped Thomas Harvey win the region's young farmer of the year competition during the weekend.

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It was a case of second-time lucky for Thomas Harvey, when he was named the region's young farmer of the year on Saturday.

Mr Harvey topped three sections of the National Bank Young Farmer Contest to take the title, which will see him move on to the Tasman regional final in Blenheim in April.

There, he will be in the running for the grand final in Gore in July.

The possum control worker, who placed third last year, beat five other contestants in the competition held at Hammond Farm on Saturday.

Rainbow Station worker Tom Curnow placed second and Erina Downs worker Paul Monroe was third.

The competitors completed seven modules, ranging from an engineering segment where competitors made a gate latch, to digger driving and fire-arms safety theory.

The Bachelor of Science student was first-equal in the bee-keeping module, first in the theory and topped the excavator module.

Mr Harvey said he was pleasantly surprised when he was named the winner, taking home a $100 cheque and a new travel bag.

He said while he hoped to win, he was nervous his good friend Paul Monroe would pip him at the post.

"You learn a lot by doing them [competitions].

"I really enjoy it and I get to see how I compare to other young farmers."

The Massey University student, who spends holidays working in Marlborough, will fly back to Marlborough for the Tasman regional final.

Young Farmer of the Year competition district convenor Steve Knight said most people had a "couple of cracks" at it before winning the title.

The contest is designed be a learning experience with people finding out where their strengths and weaknesses are, Mr Knight said.

He said the top-level competition required study and hard work to succeed.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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