The Wanaka Rotary Club under the leadership of George Scott has created a Winter Crop Competition for farmers in the Upper Clutha Area.

The competition has been running for two years now and grown from 50 crops entered in the first year to 60 crops this year.

The crops are judged by a mix of Rotarians with a farming background and retired farmers with the help of seed company reps in the area. Everyone enjoying getting onto another farm and seeing the crops and a chat with the farmers.

Following the judging the winners are picked in the different categories and everyone is invited to an evening function and the winners are announced. During the evening we hold an auction of donated goods from the businesses in the area.

The evening function has grown from 110 people attending the first year to 170 this year.

Over the last two years we have raised over $100,000 which has been donated to the Otago Rescue Helicopter and Otago Rural Support Trust.

This event ticks lots of boxes for Rotary providing funding for donations, providing a social night out for farmers in the area and fundraise for Tarras School which provide catering for the night.

This has become an event that is on the farming calendar in the Wanaka area.