January 29, 2015
Award promotes life on land
The hunt is on for the best young Maori farmer in the sheep and beef sector.
It’s nomination time for the Ahuwhenua Trophy, and Maori farms around the country would have been running the numbers over the summer on whether this is the year they should enter.
Ahuwhenua kaumatua Abe Seymour says while the revived competition restarted in the 1990s, the young farmer section was only instigated four years ago.
He says past winners have leapt forward in their careers, and getting a chance to measure themselves against others is good for all entrants.
They are also good role models for other young Maori.
"We need to be saying to secondary school pupils this is another area of employment you can have a look at. It’s not just academic and it’s not just trades but have a look at farming as a lifestyle but more than that, as an opportunity to grow yourselves as good people, because farmers are good people," Mr Seymour says.
Entries to the Young Maori Farmer of the Year award close on February 13, and the winner will be announced in Whanganui on May 29.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH ABE SEYMOUR CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjU4ODk=
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