Entries are open for up and coming young Māori working on sheep and beef farms around the country to enter the prestigious Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award (AYMF).
The award was inaugurated ten years ago and is designed to recognise the achievements of young Māori in the farming and horticulture sectors. In 2022 the competition is for sheep and beef – in a three year cycle, young Māori involved in horticulture and dairy are also recognised.
The competition is run in conjunction with the senior Ahuwhenua Trophy which in 2022 is also open to Māori sheep and beef farmers.
Nukuhia Hadfield, Chair of the Management Committee which oversees both the Young Māori Farmer competition and also the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition says the continued growth within the Māori agribusiness sector has opened up new career opportunities for rangatahi. She says in the relatively short time the AYMF competition has been running, it has brought to the fore some outstanding young Māori men and women who have already excelled in their careers. Since becoming finalists or winners they have moved up to new and more responsible roles and many have become inspirational role models.
“I would encourage young Māori men and women to enter this competition. They will find, like others have in the past that it opens up new opportunities and networks and gives them the self-confidence to achieve their full potential. The Ahuwhenua whānau that runs the competition is both welcoming and supportive and not in any way intimidating. They will have a great time,” she says.
Entries are now open and entry forms and further details are available here. Entries close on Friday 11th February 2022 and the finalists will be announced in late March 2022. The winner will be announced at the Ahuwhenua Trophy awards dinner on Friday 27th May 2022.
What past winners of the YMF sheep and beef competition have said:
“It was a really positive experience for me. I would recommend it to anybody because it will help them go further in the industry.” Jordan Smith, 2013 winner
“Winning this competition has given me the confidence to want to achieve my dreams of owning or leasing my own farm. It gave me a real confidence boost and made me realise that, yes us females can be farmers, and yes we are good at what we do because we are right up the with the boys.” Hannah Wallace, 2015 winner
“When I was at school I had little inkling that I’d make farming my career choice. But this occurred when I started working part time on farms when I was just fifteen, doing odd jobs such as fencing. The breakthrough came two years later when I was offered a permanent role at Waitaha Station in northern Hawke’s Bay. Two years later I moved to my present role at Pihanui Station.” Jordan Biddle, 2017 winner
“This will widen my networks and enable me to reach out to more people” Kristy Roa, 2019 winner
A big thanks to sponsors of the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award: Te Puni Kōkiri, Primary ITO, Te Tumu Paeroa, Beef+Lamb New Zealand and Allflex.
Media can contact Peter Burke: 021 224 2183 / peterj@true-to-ireland.com.
