Fieldays Rural Catch, formerly known as the Rural Bachelor competition, has been a popular fixture on the Fieldays calendar for 13 years where eight talented rural competitors from around New Zealand and Australia have had the chance to test their skills both on and off the farm to find the ultimate champion.
Fieldays Rural Catch event manager Lynn Robinson is impressed with the applicants this year.
“We had an encouraging number of entries from all over New Zealand and from various agri-sectors including dairy and sheep and beef drystock.
“The calibre of entrants is very high and it was challenging to narrow it down to just eight finalists.
“The women are especially talented. I’m sure they’ll give the guys a run for their money,” Robinson said.
Not only are the finalists a catch for any potential love interest but their rural skills and knowledge of agricultural business makes them a catch for any employer, business partner and the wider ag-industry.
The all-expenses paid competition starts for the Rural Catch finalists on Sunday June 10 with the Farmlands Roadtrip, which gives the contestants the chance to get to know each other and try their hand at various challenges before the serious stuff begins on the first day of Fieldays, Wednesday June 13.
This year the competition will feature traditional challenges such as fencing, quad bike skills and dog handling as well as challenges involving tractors and cooking – but with a twist.
The popular fittest farmer challenge, introduced last year, testing finalists’ strength and fitness will feature again this year.
The finalists’ financial skills will also be tested in a Nail Your Numbers challenge.
2018 Fieldays Rural Catch finalists
Dairy farm manager Sam Hughson from Hawera enjoys working with cows and machinery and seeing the land develop and is looking for someone with a good sense of humour willing to try new experiences, who has a positive mindset and appreciates the rural lifestyle.
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