Simon, a sheep farmer at Gummies Bush, Southland, he inherits the title from Robert Kempthorne, also a Lincoln University graduate, BAgrSc (Hons), and also from Southland.who was the 2003 winner. The year before that the winner was Tim Porter, from Central Canterbury, who holds a Lincoln University Diploma in Farm Management.
Simon's success means that 18 winners of the 36 Young Farmer contests held since the event was established in 1969 have been ex-Lincoln students.
The Southland sheep farmer finished the 2004 Grand Final nine points ahead of a Lincoln classmate Kynan Thomsen, who graduated the same year and with the same qualification. Kynan, who manages a corporate sheep and beef property at Mangakino, was representing East Coast.
In third place was Massey University graduate Louise Collingwood, representing Waikato-Bay of Plenty.
Victory was particularly sweet for Simon as it was his second crack at the top title. In 2001 he was fourth in the Grand Final.
For further information contact
Ian Collins, Journalist, Lincoln University, Canterbury
Tel: (03) 3252811 ext 8549.
Email: Ian Collins