Small school, big result: Waikari Warriors head to FMG Young Farmer final

Waikari Warriors Rosie Barton, Max Beach and Fergus Butters celebrate their win. The North Canterbury trio are heading to the FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand final.

There are only around 34 students at Waikari School.

Which makes what the Waikari Warriors have just done feel even bigger.

Despite being wrongly labelled the “Waikari Wanderers” in early coverage, these are Warriors and they proved it.

Rosie Barton, Max Beach and Fergus Butters, all 12, have taken out the AgriKids title at the Tasman regional final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition, earning themselves a place at the national grand final in New Plymouth this July.

Not bad for a team from a small North Canterbury school where everyone knows everyone, and most have grown up side by side.

“We’ve known each other since we started school,” Max says.

That familiarity showed. While other teams rushed, the Warriors found their rhythm. Fast, but deliberate.

“We were fast,” Fergus says. “But we also took our time, like tightening bolts properly and doing things right.”

That balance paid off, helping them claw back points in the final.

Fergus reckons one of their strongest moments came during the practical tasks.

“We did the gate really fast. That’s where we caught up,” he says.

Each of them brought something different.

Rosie, the calm one.

Fergus, the speed.

Max, the one thinking a step ahead.

“Everyone’s good at one thing,” Fergus says. “We all know what that person’s good at.”

For Rosie, who comes from a farming background, the competition felt like a natural fit, but it was not just the hands-on work she enjoyed.

“I liked the health and safety one,” she says. “You had to match hazards on a farm setup with the right safety actions.”

Max and Fergus are still buzzing about the go kart.

“That was the best part,” Max says.

Despite performing strongly all day, none of them expected to win.

“When they called third, we thought maybe that would be us,” Rosie says. “Then second, and then when they said first, we were like, what?”

“We were very shocked,” Fergus adds.

That moment has now put them on the national stage as part of the wider FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand final event.

Getting there has been a team effort in more ways than one.

From selling sunflowers at the Amberley market to backing from local sponsors, the team has raised the funds to make the trip north.

“We’ve got enough now,” Max says. “Flights are booked; house is sorted.”

For him, the highlight is simple.

“Going on a plane with my friends,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to do that.”

Two of the team are from farming families, one is not, but all three see farming as part of the future.

“Food,” Rosie says simply, when asked why farming matters.

“Yeah,” Max adds. “You need it to live.”

It is that kind of grounded thinking and quiet confidence  that comes from a small school environment.

“There are pros and cons,” Max says of a small school. “But you get more opportunities.”

In a small North Canterbury school, with a team that has grown up together, learned each other’s strengths, and backed each other under pressure, something is working.

Warriors.

And the future of farming looks bright.