Rural / Country

Hurunui farmer in Young Farmer Contest final

15:15 pm on 16 March 2015

A North Canterbury farmer with three day jobs is the third grand finalist to be named for this year's Young Farmer Contest.

James Hoban of the Hurunui Young Farmers Club Photo: SUPPLED / NZ Young Farmer Contest

James Hoban, who belongs to the Hurunui Young Farmers Club, took first place at the Tasman Regional Final in Kirwee on Saturday.

The 29-year-old is a part time sheep farmer, a farm environment consultant and a free lance journalist for Country-Wide.

Second place went to sheep and beef farmer, Andrew Wiffen, of the Renwick Young Farmers Club, and third place went to lower order share milker Karl Dean of the Dunsandel Young Farmers Club.

The eight contestants had to complete a number of challenges from dairy goat milking to engineering, practical tasks and business components, in what was described as a very close and tense evening show.

The Grand Final will be held in Taupo in July.