Nov 1, 2024
While both theory and practical knowledge were tested at the inaugural Young Deer Farmer Competition, held near Geraldine, it was the informal chats with those in the industry and the camaraderie quickly forged that were the real prizes of the day, for both contestants and the hosts.
Contestants at the Young Deer Farmer Competition
The event was held at Peel Forest Estate and was organised by the South Canterbury-North Otago (SCNO) branch of the New Zealand Deer Farmers Association (NZDFA). The day saw 22 contestants, between the ages of 18 and 25, vie for the title as they completed a written quiz along with animal weighing, velvet grading, fencing, and a few other practical activities to gauge farming aptitude.
The contestants were scored and the top five selected to now move into the second round, to be held at the branch’s annual velvet competition in Timaru on 29 November.
“It was a great day and a huge success, in terms of what we were trying to achieve,” says Mark Tapley, branch chair of the SCNO branch, as well as managing director and stud manager at Peel Forest Estate.
“We had many of our branch members, with so much farming experience between them, come down to the barbeque in the evening after the event, which was cool to see – all these young folk picking the brains of those who’ve been doing it for years.”
The range of skills in the competition varied, with some events – such as the measuring of hard antler – experienced for the first time for contestants. But that’s all part of the day out, according to Tapley.
“While yes, their skills were tested and scored, and yes, there was a whopping prize purse of a few grand, but the best part, for me at least, was seeing all the contestants chatting along like great mates at the end of the day, and then learning from some of the old heads. That was exactly what we were after.”
The SCNO branch of the NZDFA is one of the country’s so-called powerhouse regions for deer farming, and so many of the other branches have been watching with keen interest and have been quick to signal their congratulations and support of such efforts.
“While we recognise that not every branch could feasibly put on such an event, there’s no reason why some of the smaller regions couldn’t host together,” Tapley suggests. “The good thing is now we have a blueprint we can roll out easy as. These types of events – boosting industry awareness, organised by grassroots organisations – are just so important for the future of our industry.”
