Newdegate Machinery Field Days: Inaugural Farmer’s Competition wild and woolly as students take top prize

A group of Great Southern Grammar students who “entered on a whim” have used their perfect mix of youthful energy and farming experience to beat four other teams and take top spot in the Newdegate Machinery Field Days’ first Farmer’s Competition. The competition was wild, woolly and at times frantic as five teams battled it out to complete a series of challenges in record time to take out bragging rights, a $1000 prize and the title of the Field Day’s inaugural ‘Farmers of the Year’. The winning team was comprised of Year 12 students George Somerscales, 18, Hamish Medway, 17, Pierce Newman, 17, and Darcy Barrett, 17, who drew on their childhood and teenage years spent on farms to win the prize. The group of friends entered on a whim after reading a story about it in the Countryman’s Newdegate Machinery Field Days program. Pierce said the team excelled in most of the tasks but had struggled with communication. “We would encourage people to listen to the task and make sure you understand exactly what you are doing,” he said. “And don’t be scared of the yabbies. But we supported each other through thick and thin”. After growing up on a cattle property at Lake King, Hamish joked he found the wool bale role the most difficult challenge. The others all grew up on farms, with George hailing from Wagin, Pierce from Newdegate, and Darcy from Jerramungup. Local farmer Tim Walter coordinated the competition after being inspired by the success of Young Farmers’ Competitions at other agricultural events in WA — including the Wagin Woolorama and Mingenew Midwest Expo. While traditionally for those aged 18-35, the Newdegate version was open to all ages. Competitors had a big task ahead, which started with getting out of a swag, putting boots on and boiling a billy on a live fire. They then had to jump over a set of cattle panels, before sorting lupins from wheat in a plastic tub and rolling a wool bale 30 metres. The challenge continued with a mission to capture five live yabbies from a tank, throw several pairs of boots into a bucket and then crack a stock whip — which proved the hardest challenge of all for some competitors, who were provided safety glasses. Last up was to sort 10 cans into a Containers for Change bin, jump over a hay bale, and tag team with the next competitor. “We wanted it to be fast and furious, to give plenty for the spectators to enjoy,” Mr Walter said. “People were really excited about it and so many people turned up to watch. There were a lot of laughs.” A team of Newdegate locals placed second and took home $200 donated by Newdegate Stock and Trading. Among the group were local netballers Suzie McDonald and Mia Gooch, and football players Jack Walter, and Rupert Butcher. While advertising the competition ahead of time, Mr Walter said they did not push for pre-registrations. Instead, it was a case of teams rallying together to enter on the day — with a mix of school students, agronomists, farmers, farm workers, and others from Newdegate putting their skills to the test. Mr Walter said plans were already in place for next year’s event, with “plenty to finesse” after the inaugural competition. MORE PICTURES BELOW