FORGET beer skulling races at the local watering hole. These young farmers are notching up the competition to a whole new level, showcasing agriculture nightly under the bright lights of the main arena. ANDREA CROTHERS reports:
REPUTATIONS, bragging rights and a shot at national glory are at stake as lads and lasses around the country prepare to throw their hats into the ring for one of the Ekka’s most watched events.
The Young Farmers Challenge is an event in which gender-mixed teams of four competitors complete a series of rural-based challenges in a relay format. Rolling up swags and moving hay
bales are no longer tedious duties as competitors work quickly with other challenges like lassoing a cow – all part of the fun.
The Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA) Future Directions Committee (FDC) introduced the state competition to the exhibition’s program in 2012.
FDC Young Farmers Challenge chairwoman Jill Simmons said it was “sensational how much this [event] has grown”.
“We were in a small arena with a few friends thinking this was a good idea and now it’s one of the most watched events.”
Queensland Shows Next Generation has been the driving force behind the competition’s success outside of Brisbane.
As a result, many local agricultural shows have adopted the event and formal sub-chamber competitions have developed. This year six of the eight teams have been nominated for the
Queensland Young Farmers Challenge, representing show sub-chambers.
Rowan O’Hara, president of Queensland Shows Next Generation committee, said there were a number of reasons for encouraging
country shows to adopt the event, including that it bolstered youth involvement in local shows and was a form of cheap entertainment.
Support for the event has blossomed across Australia. This year the national finals, normally hosted at the Sydney Royal Show, come to Brisbane, pitting the finest farmers from across Australia against Queensland’s home-grown heroes.
State and national finals are scheduled for Saturday, August 8, in the main arena.
The Challenges: 1. Swag rolling. 2. Lasso a cut-out cow. 3. Fill a feed tub. 4. Rug a sheep. 5. Shift the hay. 6. Rescue with a stretcher.
YFC right for night
IT’S not just the live music, fireworks and extraordinary horses entertaining Brisbane Royal showgoers every day in 2015.
The Young Farmers Challenge will also join the EkkaNites program. Exhibition races will be run every night of Ekka at 6.45.
Expanding the competition into the night program was an initiative of RNA entertainment manager Tony Laffan.
After seeing the event in the main arena last year, Mr Laffan approached the FDC and Queensland Shows Next Gen to develop an Ekka Young Farmers Challenge.
Young Farmer Challenge spokeswoman Jill Simmons said Mr Laffan “was really blown away with the audience response last year”.
Next Generation president Rowan O’Hara said the nightly event would further expose showgoers to the agricultural industries.
“It’s great not only because it means more country kids can compete in the event, but it gives an opportunity for city people to see a competition that’s simulating everyday life.”
