It was third time lucky for Callum Thomsen when he won the East Coast Regional Final of The National Bank Young Farmer Contest in Masterton on Saturday.
He was runner-up in his previous two Regional Final attempts.
“I’m absolutely stoked not to come second again. It’s great to finally crack a first.”
The 29-year-old Hawke's Bay sheep and beef farmer is also the younger brother of two-time grand finalist Kynan Thomsen, who was second in 2004.
Callum says he’s thrilled to have made it to this year’s Grand Final in Greymouth in July – winning by 14 points over Wairarapa dairy farmer Warren Chappell.
“I was consistently in the top two or three throughout the practicals and the night round, the interview and the speeches. I was near the top in all the rounds and that’s what got me through.”
Callum had 221 points to Warren’s 207, with Tikokino’s Grant Charteris third on 194 and David Buick from Pahiatua fourth on 192.
David took out the combined Practical/Agrisport prize, just two points ahead of both Callum and Warren, as well as the interview section, with Callum presenting the best speech.
Regional Manager Jeremy Hunt said Callum had a small lead with three rounds to go so he had to work hard in the final buzzer rounds to hold off a charge from Warren.
The evening venue was St Matthew’s Collegiate School, with the Practical challenges hosted at the Masterton A&P Showground.
He said one highlight of the day was the race-against-the-clock Agrisport, which had great layout and content.
“The contestants were moving all the time and were spaced evenly all the way through. The contestants thought it was very physical.”
Callum has been a member of the Eskview Young Farmers Club for 10 years and has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture). He farms an 1100ha sheep and beef property at Patoka in partnership with his parents. The family property has 6200 ewes, 200 breeding cows and 600 finishing cattle. Being a sheep and beef farmer, Callum says he’ll have to get more practical dairy experience, as well as brushing up on his fencing skills, which was one challenge he struggled with in Masterton.
“I was on a par on most of them, but now I have to sit down and nut out what they’ve had in past Grand Finals, find out where my weaknesses are and work out a study plan for those. I’ll be calling on Kynan’s experience as well of course. The secret to me getting this far is the support of family and friends.”
That support was in full force on Saturday.
“They called themselves the Pit Crew. There was a truckload of them making a lot of noise and that made a difference. It was really cool. They’re already planning the trip to Greymouth.”
Callum says the Regional Final was a credit to convenor Paul McGill and his team.
“Now I hope I do the East Coast and Eskview Young Farmers proud. I’ll do my best.”
He takes home cash, clothing, book vouchers and an AGMARDT research fund to the value of $500, as well as a Honda CTX200 Bushlander two wheel farm bike – a total prize package of $8995. The Grand Final first prize package is valued at almost $80,000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Richard Fitzgerald
Contest Manager
National Bank Young Farmer Competition