Changes for wheat contest?

Press, 21 October 1983, Page 28

Changes for wheat contest?

The annual wheatgrowing competition, established in conjunction with Lincoln College, could become a national contest with winners of regional sections competing in a major event in Canterbury every second year.

This is one of the pro-, posals being considered by the ICI Tasman Wheat ’B3 organising committee for the future of the competition.

Mr Don Crabb, the committee’s chairman, said the intention was to sound out feelings about the competition in wheat-growing regions, such as South Otago, Southland and Manawatu.

“Holding the competition in other regions would attract many farmers who otherwise might not enter,” Mr Crabb said.

However, if regional competitions were to be held good organisational back-up would be necessary, he said. Strong support had been given to Wheat ’B2 and Wheat 'B3 by Lincoln College, D.5.1.R., and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Federated Farmers,

and N.Z. Wheat Board and the North Canterbury Agricultural Merchants Federation.

Lincoln College administrative and technical organisation bad done much to put the competition on a sound base.

Mr Crabb emphasised that the competition, as organised at present, required virtually a full-time administrator, as well as strong support from commercial firms servicing the arable sector.

ICI Tasman, the major sponsor, was prepared to support the competition were it to be held elsewhere.

“Naturally, ICI Tasman is apprehensive about having the competition in other regions, without the present organisational support,” he said.

“However, continuing to hold the competition only in Canterbury could eventually alienate many wheatgrowers in other regions who would like to take part. “If successful regional competitions are to be held,

someone must be found who is willing and able to carry out the necessary organisation,” he said. “Much good will has been bujlt. up with both farmers and commercial sponsors by Wheat ’B2 and Wheat ’B3, but this ( could be lost were the

competition to be poorly run?

Mr Crabb said competitors had come from as far apart as Timaru and Blenheim, but this was still a long way short of being representative of the main wheatgrowing regions.