Big win 'surreal' feeling

GOLDEN SHEARS: Grant McNaughton gets to work on the way to winning the National Young Farmer contest at the weekend.

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South Canterbury and North Otago combined to prove that the district boasts some of the best young farmers in the country.

Grant McNaughton, of Oamaru, and Andrew Scott, of Pleasant Point, finished first and third in the national Young Farmer Contest held at the MLT Events Centre in Gore at the weekend.

Mr McNaughton, who belongs to the Dunsandel Young Farmers Club, told the Herald yesterday that the win was "still sinking in".

He pipped Gore's Pete Gardyne in the rapid fire general knowledge round to win the contest.

"It's all very surreal, really. I was a finalist back in 2007, but this was a clean slate as the competition is different every year."

He won the two theoretical sections, but said he was pleased with how he performed "across the board".

"I just had to make sure I got the simple things right, whether it was closing the fence, or tying the knots."

During three days of gruelling competition, the seven contestants had to do everything from preparing business management plans to building a mailbox, connecting a water trough, assembling a beehive and showing first-aid skills. "It's a competition that puts your character on the line," Mr McNaughton said.

"It makes you a really strong person, I'd advise anyone who has the opportunity to give it a go, it is great for personal development.

Mr McNaughton went home with prizes totalling more than $100,000.

Meanwhile, Mr Scott, who runs a 900-hectare sheep and beef property near Cave, said he was pleased with how he went. He won the Agri-Skills section, collecting $14,000 worth of prizes.

"I knew I had as good a chance as anyone and it was a really close-run thing. It was so hectic, you had to do a million things it seemed. I didn't feel it at the time as I was running on adrenaline the whole way."

He said he got advice from several people, including fellow Pleasant Point farmer and last year's winner Tim O'Sullivan.

Mr McNaughton and Mr Scott are both Lincoln University graduates. Lincoln University chancellor Tom Lambie said he "didn't want to sound biased", but felt the fact that six of the seven finalists studied at Lincoln "must reflect something".

"I think the success of the competitors from this region might have something to do with the fact that a lot of them still grow up on family farms, and are inextricably linked with the day-to-day skills and management," he said.

Mr Lambie said the competition was important as it showcased the future talents of one of the country's key industries.

"Farming is the engine room of our economy, and the contestants gain so much from the competition."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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