Working with our young farmers on fire safety

Fire and Emergency has always been a big part of rural communities. This relationship became even closer when New Zealand Young Farmers asked Fire and Emergency to provide competitive fire safety modules for the hotly contested 2022 FMG Junior Young Farmers and Agrikids Regional Finals.

Tom Ronaldson, Senior Engagement and Education Specialist in our National Community Readiness and Recovery Directorate, said Fire and Emergency was delighted to accept as it was ‘a fantastic opportunity to engage with future leaders in the agriculture sector to increase their knowledge of fire safety and how to look after people, property, and the environment’.

“For the Regional Finals, the Fire and Emergency National Community Readiness and Recovery Directorate, with help from Brand and Marketing, developed fun, creative, and educational modules for the competitors to be scored against.”

Nine Fire and Emergency District teams attended seven events across the country.

Following our successful participation in the Regional Finals, Fire and Emergency was then asked to contribute fire safety modules to the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final, which was held in Whāngarei earlier in July.

Tom said modules were developed for Agrikids, Junior Young Farmer of the Year, and Young Farmer of the Year.

“These tested contestants’ abilities on building a portable dam out of everyday items (Young Farmer of the Year), assembling a water vessel to transport water from one barrel to another (Junior Young Farmer of the Year), and a kids combat challenge that included running a hose out 20 metres, carrying a hose up two flights of stairs, and dragging a weighted sled ten metres (Agrikids).

“Building a portable dam is a common activity run by Fire and Emergency regional trainers and volunteer brigades to test people’s ability to think on their feet.

“This too was a resounding success. At the awards evening following the Grand Final, the majority of the Agrikids contestants said ours was their favourite event.”

Tom would also like to say a massive thank you to the team who attended the event.

“Without the help of our amazing District teams we would not have been able to deliver this event and have such a positive response from the competitors. To the Northland team and everyone who came up, thank you.”

Here are some photos from the day.