Friday, March 29, 2024

Pregnant mum wins Young Farmers final

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Expectant mother Lisa Kendall is the first to qualify for this years Young Farmers grand final.
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The 28-year-old took out the Northland title on February 1 while pregnant with her first child.

“It was an extremely tough competition,” she said. 

“A lot of the contestants had lots of experience in a lot of the tasks so it was really nerve-wracking. There were some pretty smart cookies in there and a lot of really diverse challenges.”

Kendall works as a Farmlands assistant business manager, Papakura sheep milker, business owner, agricultural contractor and personal trainer.

“It’s difficult.

“I’m really busy but I’m very lucky to have a supportive family and supportive husband James. I don’t do much of the housework,” she said.

She also made the final in 2017 when she came fourth.

The contest is based around innovation, technology, food, environment and people. 

Kendall took the most points in the people and food events.

Ballance rural professional Calvin Ball, 28, was second and 50:50 sharemilker Kate Reed, 29, came third. Ball led in the technology and environment categories.

“The heat was hard. It was all very challenging there were no easy parts and the practical components were exciting as well,” he said. 

He is also a former finalist, placing fourth in 2016.

“Lisa was very deserving and it was awesome competing against her and the others. They’re all such awesome people. I’m actually very content and happy to push Lisa all the way because she’s a really solid competitor,” he said.

Reed won innovation section. It was the first time contest for the new mum.

She puts her knowledge in the innovation field down to her experience working on DairyNZ research farms and managing the Northland Agricultural Research Farm.

With a 10-month-old baby the physical side of the contest was the hardest.

“I was a bit worried with chainsaws and building, things that I haven’t done for quite a while,” she said.

“The whole competition pushed me outside of my comfort zone but in a good way, pushed my boundaries. I’m also very proud of myself. It was very unexpected.”

In the Junior Young Farmer contest, 11 teams from Teen Ag Clubs in northern high schools competed.

Okaihau College cousins Nick, 15, and Zoe Harrison, 17 took the title with Whangarei Boys High School pair Archer Walton and Sean Alexander second.

The two teams secured spots in Christchurch in July to compete in the grand final.

“We didn’t think we’d done that well at all. We missed a lot of things,” Zoe said.

Kamo Intermediate proved too hard to beat in the AgriKids competition. 

The Kamo Koolios, year eight students Ella Tyler-Whiteman, 12, Brooke Woodworth, 11, and Jessie May Butler, 12, won.

Ariane Welsh, Josh Gunson and Luca Brown, the Kamo Kream, also from Kamo Intermediate, were second.

Third place went to the O C Cuts from Okaihau College – Ben Quarrie, Gemma Harrison and Grace Sanders.

All three Agrikids placegetters get spots in the grand final.

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