VICTORIA has edged out Queensland has placed second in a nail biting finish at the Australian Young Farmers Challenge.
The Queensland YFC team competed fiercely in the national competition hosted at the Royal Adelaide Show last weekend to be narrowly beaten by 0.015 seconds by Victoria.
The competition sees gender mixed teams of four complete a series of rural-based challenges such as firefighting, moving hay bales and building an irrigation sprinkler system.
The Queensland team – comprising of Bob Walsh, Melinda Cann, Samara Hoffman and Leon Polzin – hailed from Chinchilla in the state’s south west.
Young Farmers Challenge state coordinator and Queensland Ag Shows Next Generation vice president, Andrea Crothers, said the team competed locally, regionally and the Royal Queensland Show before going on to Adelaide.
“The Young Farmers Challenge is one of the fastest growing events across the state, held annually at about 60 of the 129 local agricultural shows in Queensland,” Miss Crothers said.
“To have a grassroots team from Chinchilla get so close to claiming the national title is a terrific result and the large support crew from South West Queensland that went down to cheer them on are very proud.”
Team captain Bob Walsh, who is a sheep producer and qualified butcher, said the challenge was a great experience.
“We will be trying our hardest to make it through again and hopefully we will be at the national finals in 2018,” Mr Walsh said.
“While we were in Adelaide we got asked a lot, ‘Why were we in town?’ and it was a pleasure to tell them that we were representing Queensland at the Show and explaining what we had to do in the challenge.
“Would like to congratulate Chinchilla Show Society, South West Sub Chamber, the Queensland Ag Shows Next Gen and RNA Future Directions Committee, as well as the South Australian Next Gen for hosting the national finals.”
