Newspaper Article 1982 – Contestants represent five areas on east coast

Contestants represent five areas on east coast

The 10 contestants in the regional final of the 1982 Skellerup young farmer of the year contest represent the five districts in the region from East Cape to Cape Palliser.

Each regional finalist was either winner or runner up in his district’s finals.

One will earn the honour of representing the region at the national final on August 6 in Christchurch.

The regional finals will be held in Waipukurau’s Civic Theatre from 7.30pm on Friday.

The ten finalists are: –

Heretaunga district

Mr Blair Gibson, 18, is a member of the Eskview Young Farmers’ Club and the youngest entrant.

Blair is secretary of the Eskview club and a member of the Hawke’s Bay farm cadet scheme administered by Federated Farmers.

He works on a 320 hectare farm at Kaiwaka which runs 3000 Romney ewes and 70 cows.

He is interested in all YFC activities, plus tramping and rifleshooting.

Mr David Ward, 30, belongs to the Otamauri club and manages a 346-hectare sheep and cattle farm running 2100 Romney ewes and 130 Angus cows.

He has a diploma of valuation and farm management and is the district’s representative on the farm cadet board of Hawke’s Bay Federated Farmers.

David’s interests include rafting, skiing and squash.  He is chairman of the Otamauri sports club and the school playground committee.

He is married with three children.

Central Hawke’s Bay District

Mr Geoffrey Hornblow, 23, from Ongaonga, is a member of the Tikokino Young Farmers’ Club.

He is the Central Hawke’s Bay district chairman.

Geoff has a diploma in agriculture from Massey University and is a farm worker on a 416 hectare sheep and beef property running 3800 Coopworth ewes and 220 fattening cattle.

His YFC interests include stock judging, shearing and all club activities.

Other interests include water sports, fishing, skiing, photography shooting and workshop work.

Mr Richard Ellis, 22, from Tikokino, belongs to the Tikokino YFC Club.

He is a Central Hawke’s Bay district vice chairman and has held all club positions.

Richard farms with his father and brother on their sheep, cattle and cropping property with the emphasis on fat lambs.

Richard’s interests include stock judging, shearing, squash and Rotaract.

Southern Hawke’s Bay district

Mr Joe Fouhy, 26, Pahiatua, is a member of the Ballance YFC Club.

Joe is the East Coast regional chairman and a member of YFC’s national committee.

He farms a 360-hectare property running 2600 sheep and 105 stud Angus cows.

Joe is married with two daughters.  As well as being involved in all YFC activities, he enjoys tennis.

Mr Robert Woodhouse, 24, Rakanui near Ekatahuna, [Eketahuna] is a member of the Hukanui club, where he has been secretary and treasurer.

Robert is a partner in his family’s farm, a 745-hectare property running 3950 sheep an d [and]160 cows.

His YFC interests include stock judging and debating.  He also enjoys rugby, table tennis, skiing and surfcasting.

Wairarapa district

Mr Godfrey Thomas, 28, Ratahuia, belongs to the Wainuioru YFC Club.

Godfrey has belonged to YFC for 15 years and is an East Coast region vice chairman and a member of the YFC national committee.

Photo captions –

David Ward

Geoffrey Hornblow