TRANS-Tasman rivalries will be put to a different test at next week’s New Zealand Fieldays where a rural bachelor of the year competition will pit the country’s top male talent against some Aussie farmers.
Field day organisers decided to bring in some Aussie contestants in line with this year’s global theme.
Unable to settle on just two Aussie finalists as originally planned, they went for three – including Dan Korff.
Mr Korff, who grew up at Coonabarabran and now manages Avington Merino stud at Sidonia in central western Victoria, is due to fly out to NZ’s North Island this Sunday to fight for the title.
In an Amazing Race-style competition, entrants will be flown to a secret location on Monday, June 10, and make their way to the field days by 5pm the following day, stopping in specific towns along the way to complete various tasks.
Bachelors will then take part in four days of events, testing their rural skills in a number of heats.
Finalists will also be marked on their country charm.
A regular competitor in the Young Farmer Challenge at the Sydney Royal, Mr Korff thinks he has what it takes to bring the trophy home.
“I’ve got skills, I’m independent and I have charisma. It’s a great way to do a bit of networking and see some of the countryside,” he said.
A 2008 entrant in The Land’s Hunks and Spunks competition, Mr Korff won’t rule out looking for love.
“I’m not actually looking for love, but I guess if the opportunity is there, why not.”
All Rural Bachelor finalists are housed in a top secret location known as “Bachelor Base Camp”, and the winner will take home more than $20,000 worth of prizes.
His competition includes NSW horticulture professional Andrew Blake and Victorian farmer Sam Trethewey who writes a blog for The Land’s website.
Follow the bachelors’ adventures on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Fieldays
