A Te Aroha farming bachelor is heading to the Fieldays next month – but not for the usual reasons.

Jimmy Bentham is one of seven single farmers from throughout NZ – and one from Australia – vying for the Fieldays 2014 Rural Bachelor of the Year title.

Te Aroha's Jimmy Bentham has been named as one of eight finalists in the Fieldays 2014 Rural Bachelor of the Year competition.

With the finalists announced this week, Jimmy is now in the running to win a prize pool worth $23,000 and the coveted Golden Gumboot Award.

The competition takes place at Fieldays, June 11-14, but the action kicks off June 9 when the bachelor finalists set off on an ‘Amazing Race' to Fieldays from a mystery location, completing several rural activities and tasks en-route.

During Fieldays the finalists will compete in heats held during the four days which test their agriculturally-derived skills, No.8 wire innovative attitude and all-round good charisma.

Jimmy is a dairy farm manager with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering with honours under his belt, a member of Ngarua Young Farmers Club, and has managed to fit in time to crew in several Auckland yacht races.

A typical day for Jimmy involves an early start to milk the cows, back inside for breakfast and catching up on any paperwork and meetings, feeding the cows, farm maintenance, afternoon milking and general work on farm projects.

Jimmy is a well-rounded, well-travelled bloke who says he's serious about farming and committed to improving the New Zealand agricultural industry. He also reckons he can rock a pair of gumboots and show a girl a good time.

Fieldays communications executive Vicki Annison says the competition is the opportunity of a lifetime for the good rural blokes, who not only get to enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Fieldays – but with all eyes on the guys, will receive a lot of female attention.

'I'm sure we will see a great contest as they compete and showcase their skills, strength and character, as they try and prove they have what it takes to win the title of Fieldays 2014 Rural Bachelor of the Year.”

Fieldays Rural Bachelor of the Year is proudly supported by: Suzuki, Swanndri, Skellerup, Gun City, Kea Campers, Westfield Chartwell, STIHL, Lifeguard, and Fairbrother Industries.

Fieldays Rural Bachelor of the Year 2014 finalists:

Brett Steeghs, Tirau

Fraser Laird, Wanganui

Jeff Peek, Morrinsville

Jimmy Bentham, Te Aroha

Josh Gilbert, NSW, Australia

Matthew Smith, Patetonga

Michael Paton, Norsewood

Thomas Denham, Harihari