Taieri dairy farmer Geoffrey Wilson has been named the southern district regional finalist for the 2008 New Zealand Young Rural Achiever Award.
Mr Wilson (28) has previously been recognised as the Otago Sharemilker of the Year, a finalist in the Ballance Farm Environment Award and Nutritech high-producing herd award.
Next, he will contest Royal Agricultural Society and ASB-sponsored New Zealand Young Rural Achiever Award at the Royal New Zealand Show in Christchurch early next month.
Regional judge William Mitchell said Mr Wilson would join five other finalists and be interviewed by four judges, including 2008 Australian Rural Young Achiever Tim Robinson, and they will each make a five-minute public presentation.
The winner will be announced on Thursday, November 13.
Mr Wilson owns 50% of a 120ha dairy farm at Maungatua, plus a 64ha runoff, and said he was working towards full ownership in the next three to four years.
• Southland dairy farmers Abe and Anita de Wolde will travel to Mexico next month as winners of the 2008 World Dairy Summit competition, made possible through a draw held by Rabobank.
Mr and Mrs de Wolde are based in central Southland and own three dairy farms, an equity share in a fourth farm and two other dairy support blocks.
The World Dairy Summit attracts speakers from 80 countries and more than 1000 delegates.