NZ's top young farmer was celebrating with family at Pleasant Point last night after his brains and practical skills helped him snatch $90,000 in prizes. Tim O'Sullivan was still reeling from his victory in the Young Farmer of the Year Competition in Palmerston North reports Stuff. Mr O'Sullivan came first in the practical challenge, which involved putting together sheep yards, using a digger to put in a culvert as well as fencing, putting in an irrigation system and landscaping. "I think it was the practical that got me ahead in the end, there really wasn't much in it," he said. Seven finalists competed in the final, each representing a different region. Mr O'Sullivan represented Aorangi after winning his regional final on April 26. He triumphed over a strong lineup, beating his nearest challenger, Otago-Southland representative Richard Copland, by only four points. "This is the first time in 15 years that all of the seven finalists were competing in their first-ever national final so, really, I thought I had as good a chance as anyone there. Mr O'Sullivan said Oamaru-based farmer Nick Webster, a previous two-time national finalist, had given him advice over the years on how to prepare for the big occasion. A Lincoln University graduate, Mr O'Sullivan works on a 1000-cow dairy farm and co-owns a company specialising in irrigation and effluent pond liners. Mr O'Sullivan said he loved the "independence" and "self-reliance" that comes with farming. He hoped his victory would inspire further success for young South Canterbury farmers.
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