THE inaugural Young Farmers Challenge held at this year’s Darkan Sheepfest certainly won the award for the most frenetic event.
With four teams of young farmers competing in the challenge, it was all go from the start with the teams of four all looking to get an edge over their competitors.
The challenge involved the team having to assemble some portable yards, then arrange wool fleeces in micron order and then taking it in turns to fill up buckets to pour into a 90 litre enviro drum, while wearing a fire jacket and goggles.
The team to fill up their drum first were deemed the winners.
Teams were disqualified if their members did not have the fire jacket and goggles on when they went to fill up their buckets.
In a highly entertaining event, it was the team known as the Screaming Geckos that withstood the challenges and a bit of sabotage from other teams to take out first place honours.
The Geckos team was made up of Todd Lubcke, Maddy Petchell, Cameron Buller and Ben Goss.
Just behind them in second place were the Bonnie Lasses, a team comprising Murray Buller, Channai Graham, Ben Buller and Bonnie Telfer, while McLeods Daughters came in third and The Big Horses finished in fourth.
Young Farmers Challenge co-ordinator Amy Lubcke said members of the Sheepfest committee had seen similar events run at the Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days and at shows in the Eastern States and thought it was a good way to showcase young farmers and the work they do.
“We have a good group of young farmers in the West Arthur Shire and it is good to get them involved in this event and the community,” Ms Lubcke said.
“The winning group is now eligible to compete in the Young Farmers Challenge at the Dowerin Field Days if they choose to.
“I would also like to thank the other co-ordinators of the event who helped me out in Paul and Janelle South and Craig and Helen Lubcke.”
