Cameron Black and partner Soraya Zohrab.
A Bachelor of AgriScience graduate, Cameron Black, 25, took out the fiercely-contested Aorangi Regional Final in Waimate on Saturday and will now face off against other finalists from all over New Zealand at the grand final in Invercargill in July.
His win netted him nearly $12,000 worth of prizes, including an XR150 Honda farm bike.
The rural consultant was raised on a sheep and beef farm at Gropers Bush in Southland. It was his fourth time competing in a regional final. The event saw eight finalists tackle a series of gruelling modules, including a fast-paced agri-knowledge quiz.
“Hopefully I can do Aorangi proud,” Mr Black told the crowd. “I’ve got a good support crew who came from all over the country to be here.”
He also won the coveted Ravensdown Agri-Skills Challenge, the AGMARDT Agri-Business Challenge and the Meridian Energy Agri-Knowledge Challenge.
His partner Soraya Zohrab received a special mention in this acceptance speech.
“I think she probably knew more of tonight’s answers than I did, given the number of times she’s grilled me on quiz questions over the last month,” he said.
William Green, who’s a farm manager on an 840-cow dairy farm at Fairlie, won the Massey University Agri-Growth Challenge.
The Young Farmer of the Year is an iconic agricultural contest which began in 1969 and is now celebrating its 50th year.
Cameron Black hard at work on one of the challenges.