Proud Supporting Partner
Photo Credit: Ben Mizzi – Letterpress
About the Competition
Young farmers from around the country showcase their expertise in a series of on-farm challenges showcasing the depth of knowledge and technical skills required in agriculture today.
These challenges can be anything from animal handling to fencing, driving tractors, putting out fires, first aid, heavy lifting and transport challenges.
Once a year, cream of the crop from each state comes together to battle it out for the title of Australian Young Farmer Challenge champions.
What it’s all about
The competition is open to teams of four people, teams must have at least one representative from each gender. Teams must first compete at a local level. Each of the winning local teams are given the opportunity to compete at a Regional level, with the winners in turn progressing to the State finals held during each states royal show. All State winners are then invited to attend the National finals to compete for prize money and the bragging rights of being the “Best of the best” across the country!
Ultimately, the Australian Young Farmer Challenge is a great way for Young Australian’s to network and engage with other young Australians and industry leaders from across the country. For us it’s a way for the industry to celebrate, support and recognise Australia’s future leaders in Agriculture.
To get involved in your local Young Farmer Challenge contact your State or local Show Society or contact us at execofficer@agshowsaustralia.org.au
How to get involved
Hosting a Young Farmer Challenge is a great way to encourage people to come together at your local show, as both competitors and spectators. A Young Farmer Challenge can be run at a very small cost and support is available through ASA and state representatives. All you need is space, a few helpers and some teams and you’re away!
If you need some inspiration to get started or want to talk to someone in your state, see our helpful guides below.
How to run and win a Young Farmer Challenge
Ever wanted to know how easy it is for your show to run a Young Farmer Challenge. Check out this short, funny video giving you all the guidance you need.
State Contacts
The ASA National Emerging Leaders Working Group oversee the National AYFC competition. The ASA Emerging Leaders Working Group aid the development of resources for all levels of AYFC’s, with a focus on sustainable participation, youth engagement, showcasing agricultural innovation and on-farm safety.
The following members are knowledgeable in their state AYFC and a valuable resource for regional and local committees developing their AYFC competition.
Working Group Members
Australian Capital Territory Representatives
Commitee/Org: RNCAS Next Gen
Representative: Pending
New South Wales Representatives
Committee/Org: RAS Youth Group
Representative: Sarah Stanbury & Kane Gerrets
Email: shjstanbury@gmail.com & kgerrets@rasnsw.com.au
Phone: 0451 292 929 (Kane)
Commitee/Org: ASC of NSW Next Gen
Representative: Nicola Di Bona
Email: info@ascnextgen.com.au
Northern Territory Representatives
Commitee/Org: NTSC
Representative: Rachael Mashford & Tiffany Davey
Email: show@alice-springs.com.au or mail@katherineshow.org.au
Queensland Representatives
Commitee/Org: RNA Future Directions Committee
Representative: Alex Cottrell
Email: alex.cottrell@judo.bank
Phone: 0458 479 656
Commitee/Org: QLD Ag Shows Next Generation
Representative: Catherine English
Email: admin@qldagshows.com.au
Phone: 07 3277 7747
South Australia Representatives
Commitee/Org: SA Next Gen
Representative: Henry Scott
Email: sanextgeneration@gmail.
Phone: 0406 146 819
Tasmania Representatives
Commitee/Org: TAS Ag Shows
Representative: McKinley Garwood
Email: mckinley@hobartshowground.com.au
Phone: 0497 296 660
Victoria Representatives
Contact: Andrew Spierings
Email: emergingleaders@melbourneroyal.com.au
Phone: 03 9281 7444
Western Australia Representatives
Commitee/Org: RASWA Next Generation Sub Committee
Secretary: Vivian Truong
Email: vivian.truong@raswa.org.au
Phone: 6263 3166
YFC Representative: Joshua Antonio
Email: jdantonio@westnet.com.au
Phone: 0429 220 130
AYFC Handbook
This is a comprehensive information handbook, for competition organisers to run an AYFC at your ag show, including guidelines, how-to guides, resources and more.
| Title | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Australian Young Farmer Challenge Handbook 1 |
October 2024 | July 1, 2025 | Download |
AYFC “How To” Resources
These resources are provided as samples, templates and examples only. Competition organisers are encouraged to seek advice to ensure each document suits their needs and adheres to their state’s insurance and work safety regulations. Please contact projectofficer@agshowsaustralia.org.ag for different document formats (i.e.: excel, word).
| Title | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
AYFC Animal Welfare Guidelines 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Budget Template 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Business Case Template 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Competition Scoring Template 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Competitor Waiver Template 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Entry Form Template 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Procedure Manual Template 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Risk Assessment Template 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Risk Management Proformas 1 |
July 5, 2023 | Download | |
|
AYFC Sample Challenge Catalogue 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Sample Event Program 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Sponsorship Prospectus Template 1 |
January 12, 2021 | Download | |
|
AYFC Team Score Sheet Template 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download | |
|
AYFC Theory Challenge Template 1 |
December 7, 2020 | Download |
AYFC Promotional Content Suite
Ag Shows Australia has prepared a suite of templates and messages for local shows to hit the ground running in promoting the Australian Young Farmer Challenge competition to entrants, sponsors and the local community.
All of the templates can be downloaded below.
| Title | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
AYFC Email Paragraphs for Local Shows & ASA 1 |
May 17, 2023 | Download | |
|
AYFC Line Drawings 1 |
July 5, 2023 | Download | |
|
AYFC Local Show Media Release for new sponsor 1 |
May 17, 2023 | Download | |
|
AYFC Local Show Media Release Looking for entrants 1 |
May 17, 2023 | Download | |
|
AYFC Local Show Media Release looking for Sponsors 1 |
May 17, 2023 | Download | |
|
AYFC Local Shows Seeking Entrants – SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS.docx 1 |
May 17, 2023 | Download | |
|
AYFC Local Shows Seeking Sponsors – Social Media Posts 1 |
May 17, 2023 | Download | |
|
YFC Entrant Social Tiles 1 |
June 20, 2023 | Download | |
|
YFC Sponsors Social Tiles 1 |
June 20, 2023 | Download |
Farm Safety
As the host of an Australian Young Farmer Challenge, it is your opportunity – and your responsibility – to showcase safe working practices for the farming activities that make up the Challenges. Download Safety Guidelines for challenge organisers. or click on the images below to download the PDF for each farm safety banner.
| Title | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
AYFC Safety Guidelines for Challenge Organisers 1 |
May 22, 2023 | Download | |
|
Farm Safety Banner 1 (Farm Safety) 1 |
November 6, 2023 | Download | |
|
Farm Safety Banner 2 (Keep Your Mate Safe) 1 |
November 6, 2023 | Download | |
|
Farm Safety Banner 3 (Stories From The Farm) 1 |
November 6, 2023 | Download | |
|
Future Farm Safety for Life Resources 1 |
August 25, 2023 | Download |
AYFC Regional Grant Program
The Australian Young Farmer Challenge (AYFC) is an opportunity for young people and agriculture to take centre stage on a local, state and national level. The AYFC competitions provide entertainment and crowd engagement as well education for the broader community about agriculture, food and more specifically, the role of farmers and farm safety.
Agricultural Shows Australia (ASA) received funding from a Federal Government Grants program: Building Landcare Community Capacity (BLCC) as part of the Smart Farming Program under Phase 2 of the National Landcare Program. The purpose of the program was to support the sharing of knowledge and achievements and promote community leadership.
Currently, the AYFC is a demonstration of the talent, skills, techniques and safe work methods that young farmers use every day for work. Competitors are asked to do their best to complete the challenges correctly against the clock, as well to focus on safety, and most importantly, enjoy the competition and provide entertainment to the audience. Over 100 competitions are run annually at agricultural shows across Australia, however there is a huge scope to expand this network of youth in agriculture.
The AYFC Regional Grant Program was available to support the purchasing of materials needed to run AYFC competitions at a local, regional and state level across Australia. From start-up competitions through to established local competitions looking to expand into regional and state competitions, funding submissions were accepted from all eligible organising committees.
Snips from successful applicants:
“The YFC Regional Funding Grant has allowed us to build on the YFC equipment we have been able to acquire over the years through in-kind sponsorship. The variety of equipment the group now has through the funding, will allow for shows to collaborate with the group and other shows within their region.”
News
26 Fun Activities To Run In The Australian Young Farmer Challenge
We’ve rounded up 30 action-packed activities from 13 different categories to help committees prepare an entertaining AYFC competition that will get the blood pumping and the crowd roaring: WOOL 1. Run, wool bale, run Each team rolls a wool bale off a ute to a...
Sponsors
Proud Supporting Partner
promoting the role and significance of Australian Agricultural Shows to the wider community
About Ag Shows Australia
Agricultural Shows Australia represents over 580 shows nation-wide and works to engage, influence and promote the essential value of Australian Agriculture.