The Ragwort Wrestlers, aka three students from St Mary's School in Putaruru, won the 2014 AgriKidsNZ Waikato/Bay of PlentyRegional Finals in Taupo on Saturday.

Team Ragwort Wrestlers Edmund White,Gabriella Farrell and Luke Farrell of St Mary's School in Putaruru are the AgriKidsNZ Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional winners.

Two Lone Wolves, Graham Johnson and Cory Jones from Hamilton Boys' High School were the top team in the TeenAg event.

Gabriella Farrell, Edmund White and Luke Farrell from St Mary's competed in a range of events to take the top title in the AgriKidsNZ competition and Two Lone Wolves, Graham Johnson and Cory Jones from Hamilton Boys' High School, were the top team in the TeenAg event.

'It was another great day out with a number of keen contestants, who proved they had the skills and knowledge to make it through to the grand-final,” says Josie Hampton, AgriKidsNZ and TeenAg Project Leader. The project is a Young Farmers Club initiative.

Second place for the AgriKidsNZ Competition went to TIS Agri Stars, Alyssa Harrison, Sakshi Patil and Bayley Weal from Taupo Intermediate School and the Methane Tigers, Cayde Thompson, Jamie Prier and Maggie Lulu Draper-Kidd from Taupo Intermediate placed third.

AgriKidsNZ is open to children 8-13 years of age and they compete in teams of three while the TeenAg competition calls for high school students 13-18 years old, competing in pairs.

The competitions test skills, strength and stamina, while introducing youth to the fun side of agriculture. Primary and high school students from all walks of life are welcome to join in.

There was also some fierce competition amongst the TeenAg competitors.

Gunner Beez, Codi Merito and Sam Foster from Hamilton Boys' High School took home second place and in third was Tokoroa Girls, Caitlin Bridson and Rachel Durie from Forest View High.

The competitions are structured into eight modules, which can test anything and everything farm related. The top scoring seven teams continue through to the race-off challenge where contestants must work as a team and complete a series of tasks as fast as possible.

Top three teams from each regional final are invited to attend the 2014 grand final held in Christchurch, from July 3 to 5 where they will battle it out for the national champion's title.

Several regional final events are nearing capacity which presents an exciting challenge for event organisers.

'There was a large numbers of schools enter that had never competed before which was brilliant to see,” says Josie.

While the skills tested and taught in the events are predominantly agriculturally based, children from all backgrounds enjoy the AgriKidsNZ Competition as it's a way for them to get outside and get active with their friends, all they need is determination and enthusiasm.

When children become members they receive a seasonal newsletter, and are first to know about all the latest AgriKids happenings, including being invited to enter the competition says Josie.

AgriKidsNZ members don't need to come off a farm, they just need to love farming, animals and being active out in the great outdoors AgriKidsNZ Club membership is free.

For more information visit www.youngfarmercontest.co.nz

Competitors in the AgriKids finals attempt to bride a 'horse” during the event in Taupo.