Northland men join race to be next FMG Young Farmer of the Year
A Northland man who helped run one of Australia’s top-producing dairy farms has his sights set on a new challenge.
Brant Julian, 24, has qualified for the Northern Regional Final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.
“I’m stoked. It’s a great opportunity to upskill and broaden my knowledge of the primary industries,” he said.
Brant is second-in-charge on a 500-cow dairy farm at Te Kopuru near Dargaville.
He’s one of four people to qualify for the high-profile regional final after a district contest in Ruakaka last Saturday. ( November 3)
Competitors spent the day tackling modules testing their practical and theoretical skills.
Brant is a member of Northern Wairoa Young Farmers and from 2012-2015 worked on two dairy farms in Finley, Australia.
He will be joined at the Northern Regional Final by Daniel Richards, Jack Bellamy and Brody Goodmon.
Daniel is a member of Kaipara Young Farmers and took out first place in the district contest.
“I wasn’t expecting to win,” said the 21-year-old who is managing his parents’ 300-cow dairy farm east of Wellsford.
“This will be my second regional final. I wasn’t sure what to expect the first time, but I have a lot more confidence now.”
Fellow club member Jack Bellamy, 18, is “excited” to have also qualified.
Jack and Brody
won the Northern Region Fencing Competition last month, securing them a spot in the national final in Christchurch in February.
The Northern Regional Final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year is being held in Warkworth on March .
The final four finalists will be decided on November 17.
And the 2024 Prospa Local Business Hero is...
A huge congratulations to mother and son duo, Mary and Sam Danielson from The Puketapu Hotel.
The votes for all finalists have been tallied and they have been chosen by Neighbourly members across the country as the Prospa Local Business Hero of 2024.
The Puketapu Hotel was nominated by a local called Margaret and the nomination reads:
'On Feb 14, 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle flooded many of the rural areas. Puketapu Hotel went under perhaps half a meter of water. However, immediately Mary Danielson and her son, Sam Danielson, along with their loyal staff pulled it together to cook copious amounts of food that without electricity would have been wasted. Throughout the years many of us have been treated with a pub gathering where we can reconnect and a free meal. At Christmas there was Santa, games, gifts for kids, donated patchwork for adults, an ice cream truck and lots of camaraderie.
This February on the cyclone anniversary, they again pulled out the stops to give hundreds of us a special night. We are all tired of the cyclone cleanup and they understood that it was needed.'
Such a deserving business and team, well done Mary and Sam. And thank you to all those who voted!
Share your New Zealand music memories...
It's NZ Music Month and New Zealand really has some beautiful songs from artists that we call our own.
Whether it's April Sun in Cuba, Don't Forget your Roots, or How Bizarre or Bic Runga's 'Sway' - songs have a way of unlocking memories and evoking old feelings.
In honour of NZ Music Month, share a New Zealand song or artist that is special to you and explain why.
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The Tova Show
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We’re reaching out from the Tova show, the flagship weekly politics podcast on Stuff, as we prepare for our budget coverage and how it’s affecting Kiwis - we’d love to hear from you.
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