Oh brother! It’s Emma’s turn

Emma Poole has emulated her brother to become the first woman to be named New Zealand’s young farmer of the year.

Poole, from Pirongia, won the 55th FMG Young Farmer of the Year title last weekend in Timaru – watched by the 2022 winner, her brother Tim Dangen.

She also returns to Waipā with prized valued at $90,000.

Poole competed at the Waikato Bay of Plenty Young Farmer of the Year over three days of challenges against six other regional winners.

Contestants’ farming skills and general knowledge were put to the test with tasks that included repairing farm machinery, creating a hydroponic system and a race-style challenge with tasks that saw points awarded for both skill and speed.

“I‘m totally overwhelmed, I really wasn‘t sure where I was going to sit. All the finalists have been so great throughout the competition and these last three days have been really tough so I wouldn‘t say I was feeling confident, but I knew I‘d put in my best effort and that‘s all you can hope for at the end of the day,” she said. She told Dangen “we‘ve finally knocked the grass ceiling off the roof”.

“There‘s a long chain of women that have worked really hard to display the important role we play in agriculture. All those women have given me the confidence to stand up and give it a go. I‘m just a product of what they‘ve all achieved.”

More than 600 spectators at the Winchester Showgrounds watched the action during Friday’s practical day.

Poole, competing at her second final after being there in 2019, pipped Aorangi representative Peter O’Connor. Otago-Southland’s Hugh Jackson was third.

“The most challenging was definitely the Agri-Sports, I had a pretty frustrating start with the baler and the tractor and that comes down to stress, but it‘s no different to what we‘re doing every day. Farming is tough when stress comes on and you‘ve got to find a way to adapt and carry on.”

New Zealand Young Farmers Chief Executive Lynda Coppersmith said Poole impressed judges with her resilience, broad stroke of skills and knowledge and sheer determination.

“I’m thrilled for Emma – it’s the most prestigious farming award in the country and it’s incredible to see it go to someone who will be such a strong ambassador for not only the contest but for the entire food and fibre sector as a whole.”