New Zealand Young Farmers

The organisation acts as a social network for rural youth around the country and is actively involved in the education and promotion of personal skills for its members.

The first Young Farmers clubs started in Feilding in 1927 and in Auckland in 1932, but much of the organisation's early growth came in the south.

The organisation's membership dropped during World War II, but quickly recovered ground after 1945, rising to a peak of 306 clubs in 1948.

The seven top regional finalists battle it out in the grand final for the title of FMG Young Farmer of the Year.

The grand final is a two-day event: the first day includes the practical challenges and the evening dinner where the contestants deliver their speech on a topic specific to each of them.