Ashburton Courier: April 29, 2021

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Matt follows in family furrow
TONI.WILLIAMS
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Ploughing newcomer Matt
Ridge, of Highbank, seta
personal goal to not come last
at this year’s New Zealand
Ploughing Championships,
and he didn’t.
He placed 11thinthe silver
plough conventional class, but
unexpectedlyearned the
Fairhall trophy; an accolade
for the highest placed
competitor who has never
placedinthe top five of
competition up to and
including the recent national
championships.
The trophy can only be won
onceandcovers thereversible
and the silver plough
conventional classes. There
were 15 ploughmen in the
silver plough andfour in the
reversible competitions.
Ridge,30, only took up the
sport three years ago. He was
chuffedwith the trophy.
It showed he was getting
somewhere and was“on the
right furrow”.
The former Methven Young
Farmer started after attending
aploughing muster being held
to encouragepeopleintothe
sport. He quite likedit.
“It was more complicated
than Ithoughtitwas going to
be,” he said.
He has picked up the mantle
Matt Ridge is chuffed he won the Fairhall Trophy at the New
Zealand Ploughing Championships at Riversdale. PHOTO TONI WILLIAMS
from his grandfather, thelate
JohnRidge, who wasakeen
vintage ploughman andeven
hostedthe New Zealand
ploughing championships on
Greenfields Farm at Highbank
in 1996.
The farm,whichruns sheep,
potatoes and arable crops, was
alsoused for theWorld
Ploughing Championships in
2010, although Ridge’s
grandfather never got to see
them.They were hosted by his
sons, Brian, Peter andIan
(Ridge’s father).
The family farm is where
Ridge now worksasa
labourer; it was taken on by
thebrothers and now has afew
of the nextgenerationof
Ridgesworking alongside
them.
Ridge firstcompeted in a
ploughing championshipevent
on Wilkinson’s farm at
Chertseyin2019. He was
competinginthe Young
Farmer sectionand allowed
guidancefrom amentor. He
went on to winthe class.
He hassincecompeted
aroundthe district and
recently at Kirwee and Oxford.
“Every (match) condition is
different, you have to getthe
rightsetting or the soil is not
going to do the rightthing.”.
And there is no shortage of
ploughmen who are keento
pass on their knowledge.
“Thereare no clicky groups,
everyone is outtomake
everyone better,” he said.
And he admitshealsolikes
to seestraight lines.
Ridgeand hisbiggest
supporters’­wifeKelsie and
their two young children,
travelledsouth to Riversdale
in Southlandfor the national
champs.
They transportedhis Massey
Ferguson 390 and 1980
Kverneland conventionaltwo
farrow downtothe event for
what was meant to be part of a
relaxing week­long family
holiday.
“Therewere two days of
practice and two day of
competition and by the endof
each dayIwas knackered,” he
said, of the required
concentration levels.
Hisbiggestconcern during
competition in drysunny
conditions was around speed.
“Not running out of time but
not going too fast to forget to do
something,” he said.
Jake’s new job opens farm doors
Jake Jarman in action during
the Taranaki Manawatu FMG
Young Farmer of the Year
regional final.
PHOTO SUPPLIED
Jake Jarman grew up on a
family dairy farm in
Inglewood.
He was an Inglewood Young
Farmer when he took the
Taranaki Manawatu FMG
YoungFarmer of the Year
regional title andatthe time
had thoughts of creating a
‘‘rigorous trainingplan’’ to
prepare for the grandfinal.
Instead he has moved to
Ashburton for ajob withthe
ANZ. Prior to that hewas a
part­time researcher for Dairy
TrustTaranaki andworked
part­time on the familyfarm.
‘‘I've sort of been in that
space my whole life, andit's
created quite agood
foundation to be able to
understand(rural)needsand
wherethey're coming from
quite quickly,’’ he said.
ANZ's agricultural
customerswere alsoaselling
point for the new job.
‘‘A lot of these farms have
been working with the bank for
30, 40, 50 years –wehave
clientsthat have banked with
us for multiple generations,
and that only happens if you
maintain that relationship.’’
Sincemoving to the
Ashburton district Jake has
met awiderangeof farming
clients,‘‘from ambitious young
couples looking to grow and
expand, to older,more settled
farmers wanting to consolidate
while encouraging the next
generation through’’.
“It’s pretty clear they’re
proud of their local area and
keen to protectitinto the
future, and Ashburton locals
have also been really friendly
at all the eventsI’ve beentoyou
always getasmileonthe
street.”
Climatechange and
environmental regulations
made it achallengingtime ­to
be in the industry but Jake is
optimistic.
‘‘The regulationsare
continually evolving and
impacting on how farmers
operate. You've gotachanging
global market, the whole
climate change issue ­so
obviously agriculture has a
part to play in that.
‘‘I think we're in apretty cool
space, and the next 10 years
are going to see somepretty
awesomechange and
opportunities.’’
RURAL
Ashburton Courier, April 29, 2021
15
Feed
crops in
focus
TONI.WILLIAMS
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Farmers wantingtotake partin
the Ashburton A&PWinter
Feedcompetition have until
the endofthe month to enter.
Theannual competition,
sponsored by Ravensdown,
usually drawsinscores of
entries.
It willbejudged overtwo
days; on May10and 11.
Therewere classes inrape,
kale,turnips,swedes, swedes/
kale,autumn saved pasture,
mixture of any winter feed,
greenfeedcereals(oats,
ryecorn, triticali), and
fodderbeet.
Themostpopular classes
werefodderbeet andkale.
Ashburton A&P Association
secretaryLucille Brown said
trophies willbepresented to
the overallwinner and the
winner of thejudges’ choice of
best crop overall.
Thosewanting to enter have
untilApril30toget their
details, andpayment ($20
members, $25non members), to
her via theAshburtonA&P
Association website or by
phoning308 7908.
Mrs Brownsaid that in the
past the competition had been
well supported by farmers and,
as usualthis year, hadsome
greatproduct prizesupfor
grabscourtesy of agricultural
industrysponsors.
The competition wasnotheld
last yearbecauseofcovid.
Thelast overall winner, from
the event held in 2019, was won
by Dorie farmer Vaughan
Jones, who alsowent on to win
the supreme award in theMid
Canterbury combined finalof
the Ravensdownand A&P
associations’ winter feed
competition, up against
winnersfromthe Methven and
Mayfield A&Passociation
competitions.
The AshburtonA&P
winterfeedcompetition
convenor is David Bennett and
the prize givingevent,also
courtesy of Ravensdown, will
be heldatFeeney’s Lounge, at
the Devon Tavern inAshburton
on the eveningofMay 11.
Wake up in
the Bahamas
every morning.
Bahamas Queen 4PieceSlatbedBedroom Suite
9063388
When youopen your eyes, you’llthink you’ve been transportedtoamoreexotic place.
Foramoment,atleast. The solid pine design, in whitewith grey accents,also giveit amodern,
light feel. Youmight just want to crank the heating up abit,forthe full tropical experience.
was
$2999
lessthan
$1999 $11 perweekfor
50 months
interestfree*
Offersvalid untilTuesday4th May2021, whilestockslast, unless otherwisestated. Some products on display in selectedstoresonly –pleasecall 0800764 847tocheck availability. Personalshoppers only.*Apple,selected computers,gameconsoles, giftcards, clearance
items andsome promotional items are notavailable in conjunctionwith interest free offers. Flooring available on amaximum of 18 months interestfree. Exclusions,fees, terms, conditions,and credit criteria apply. Available in-store only.