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The Young Irrigation Network (YIN) ran the inaugural NSW Young Farmer Competition at the Riverina Field Days in Griffith, on Saturday 12th May 2007.

The winner of the inaugural competition is Chris Wright from Coleambally, with Sarah Hill from Wagga Wagga coming a close second. Chris is currently employed as an irrigation operator for Tubbo Farming and has worked in the agricultural industry for the past 10 years.

As the winner of the NSW Competition, Chris will be presented with a certificate as well as an all expenses paid trip to Western Australia to compete in and represent both NSW and YIN at the National Young Farmer Competition in August this year.

A number of young people involved in the agriculture industry and from across the Riverina entered the competition. The entrants had to visit the sites of the various sponsors of the competition and answer a series of questions relating to each of those businesses. The sponsors of the competition were:-

• Riverina Wine Grape Marketing Board

• Murrumbidgee Horticulture Council Inc

• Guidolin Agrimac

• A & G Machinery

• Deniliquin Mitre 10

• NSW Rural Fire Service

• NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

The aim of the National Young Farmer Competition is to lift the profile of young people in agriculture; allow young people to test their knowledge and skills in agriculture in a challenging environment; facilitate discussion among young people from agricultural industries by providing the opportunity to network among other young farmers; and provide an opportunity for young people to show initiative and problem solving skills; traits that are required from our young future leaders.

The format of the competition is designed to test a range of skills directly related to farming with a mix of practical skills, business skills and general agricultural knowledge which are important to a successful farming enterprise.

In 2006, Benerembah farmer David Dissegna represented NSW at the National competition, also held in WA. David says that “the national competition is much more intensive than the local one.

Last year there were around 10 modules with each module taking around half an hour to complete”. At the national competition in 2006, modules topics included:

• Machinery operation and calibration

• Fencing

• Livestock handling and husbandry

• Farm finance and budgeting

• Workshop skills

• Public speaking

• O H & S and First aid

• Domestic skills

• Weeds and seeds

• General agricultural knowledge

The Murrumbidgee YIN committee would like to thank all those who entered and the businesses which supported the NSW competition. We also wish Chris all the best in the National Competition in Western Australia in August.