ON THE LAND: Philip Jessop, Charles Maslin and Tegan Node hook up a fence during yesterday’s Royal Agricultural Society NSW young farmers challenge.
TEAM ‘Broke’ in the Royal Agricultural Society NSW young farmers challenge are anything but after winning the event.
The team consisted of Orange residents Aaron Nicholls, Wade Peatman and Milthorpe girl Georgie Redfern. After building, climbing, running, driving and sweating their way through the gruelling competition, they’ll take home $1000.
The challenge involved activities such as building a dog house, replacing a tyre on a wheel barrow, hauling and chopping wood, quad bike manoeuvring and reversing a ute with a trailer while loading up sheep.
It was the second year the competition ran as part of the Australian National Field Days.
Agricultural development and youth initiatives coordinator Jen Rogan said the event had increased in popularity.
There were 18 competitors this year of men and women aged between 18 and 35.
“It’s about recognising and showing there are young enthusiastic young farmers out there,” she said.
“It’s really important to get these events out to regional areas.”
The challenge demonstrates that farming isn’t just about shearing sheep, drenching cattle or harvesting crops. It involves precision skills in multiple areas.
One of the most difficult challenges was to replace and chain a chainsaw while maintaining all of the safety requirements.
The team will be invited to take up the challenge on a state level at the Royal Easter Show.