50 Years Young A History of the Young Farmer of the Year: By Kate Taylor

Hardback, as new apart from a couple of small dents to cover.

Hardback, 288 pages Published by Massey University Press, 2019 9780995102941 25.65 x 19.56 x 2.54 centimetres (1.18 kg)

Table of Contents Contents Foreword 9 Preface 10 01 The Birth of the Contest 12 02 Sailing through the 1970s 22 03 Here Comes the TV 42 04 Ray Lew and the Skellerup Factor 60 05 Family Ties 74 06 Female Footprint 88 07 A Changing Contest 106 08 Where Do the Young Farmers of the year End Up? 122 09 Personalities 136 10 Young Farmers and the young Farmer Contest 150 11 Road to the Young Farmer Final 164 12 The Changing Face of Winners 178 13 So close . . . 194 14 The Next Generation 208 15 the Sponsors 222 16 the spirit of Young Farmers 240 17 The 50-Year Milestone is Reached 254 50 years of winners 266 Roll of Honour 270 Acknowledgements 280 About the author 281 Index 28

For 50 years the New Zealand Young Farmer of the Year awards have tested the mettle of New Zealand men and women as they go to head to head in a challenging competition that tests a range of farming and agribusiness skills. This warm-hearted book tells that history, beginning with the first regional final in 1969, broadcast live from a hall at Lincoln College, and with a bemused sheep on the stage. These days 300 contestants sign up each year to demonstrate their skills at everything from fencing to accounting. This book tells the story of a unique event that draws on the traditions of heartland New Zealand.