新西兰英语 305 Young Farmer of the Year

　　The winner of the Young Farmer of the Year Contest is Stuart McNaughton from the Tasman region¹. About 300 young men and women entered the contest earlier this year. Each region had one finalist. They each got good prizes. Then those seven finalists competed for three days in Gore², Southland, finishing last night.
They have to do many things in front of judges. They each had a 45 minute interview about themselves, farming, the community and the environment. Then they had a test where they had to answer all kinds of questions on sheep, dairy³ and deer farming and on growing crops like wheat. And they had to give a 3-minute speech. The second day was a practical day. They did not know what to expect until they opened their envelopes. Then they had to make a fence with a gate, plant trees, move sheep, build a mail box, cook venison (meat from a deer) and show first aid skills. This was a public day where people could watch. The last day finished on Saturday evening when again people could buy tickets and watch the show.
Stuart McNaughton is 26 years old. He said the contest was a mixture of hard work, study and physical fitness⁴. He won prizes worth more than $100,000. They include a car, a 4-wheel farm bike, some money, outdoor power equipment like a chain saw, outdoor clothes, fertilizers⁵, a scholarship to study at Lincoln University and to travel for three to four weeks to a partner university overseas.
Questions
What farming skills would you like to watch in a Young Farmer of the Year contest?
Do you think a good farmer needs to be able to make a speech?
Can you think of some questions they might be asked about the community?
Can you think of some questions they might be asked about the environment?
Why does NZ have a contest like this? Does your country have a contest for young farmers?

1 region   

n.地区，地带，区域；范围，幅度

参考例句：

• The students went to study the geology of that region.学生们去研究那个地区的地质情况。
• It is unusual to see snow in this region.这个地区难得见到雪。

2 gore   

n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶

参考例句：

• The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
• Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。

3 dairy   

n.牛奶场，乳品店；adj.乳制品的

参考例句：

• The yogurt sold by this dairy is delicious.这家乳品店出售的酸奶非常好喝。
• He kept a few dairy cows.他养了几头奶牛。

4 fitness   

n.适合，适当，健康，健身

参考例句：

• They're doing exercises to improve their fitness.他们为增强体质而做体操。
• No one questions her fitness for the job.没人怀疑她能胜任这项工作。

5 fertilizers   

肥料，化肥( fertilizer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the long-term effects of fertilizers 肥料的长远影响
• Crushed bones make one of the best fertilizers. 骨粉是最佳肥料之一。