Preparations are in full swing for the 50th FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest.
New Zealand Young Farmers are at the Southern Field Days promoting the 50th event, which will be held in Invercargill in July.
Otago-Southland territory manager Leanne Woodhead said tickets were on sale at field days for the three-day competition, in which the top eight young farmers in the country will battle it out for the title.
The contest will be held from July 5-7. The technical day will be on the first day, the practical day on the second and the quiz and awards evening on the last day.
The last time the contest was held in the South was 2012, in Dunedin, Mrs Woodhead said.
Members of Otago and Southland Young Farmers Clubs were organising the competition, with the help of national office.
‘‘We’re gunning for someone to take it out from Otago-Southland.’’
The Otago-Southland regional final would be held in Winton on Saturday, April 21.
Luke Templeton, Allison Knowler, Linda Taggart and Lyndon Wallace, from the Southland district, and Logan Wallace, Alan Harvey, Matt McRae and Eddie Blackler, from the Otago district, will compete at Browns Domain for the top spot.
The winner will compete at the national final in Invercargill.
As well as preparing for the grand final, Young Farmers would be at field days for the three days, showcasing the organisation.
They would take part in a Tug of War with Federated Farmers and FMG on their site, 238, at 1pm daily.
Current FMG Young Farmer of the Year Nigel Woodhead would also be on site, with the trophy, for meet-and-greets.
Mrs Woodhead also pointed to the Otago-Southland Young Farmers fencing competition, which is being held tomorrow.
NICOLE.SHARP@alliedpress.co.nz
