Name: Mark Benns Lives: Taupiri Works: Dairy farm Study: National Certificate in Production Management

"I do my studying and assignments when it suits me, if something goes wrong on the farm I have to put my study down and go fix it, then come back later to carry on my study."

To get ahead in dairy farming these days you really have to study says Mark Benns, and he should know, the 21-year-old Open Polytechnic of New Zealand agricultural student managed to secure himself a place in the 2005 regional finals of the prestigious Young Farmer of the Year contest. Currently managing a herd of 410 cows on a farm in Taupiri in the Waikato, Mark chose The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand as his study provider because of its flexible approach to learning - and because it came highly recommended by the local vet.

"I like the fact that I can study at my own pace in my own time" says Mark. Having just spent three years of full time contact study at another institution to achieve a BA majoring in psychology and sociology, the last thing Mark wanted to do was to be hemmed in by attending lectures.

Working on a dairy farm while studying for his BA made Mark realise that that was the direction he wanted to head in. Having decided his future lay in the farming industry, he wanted a study provider that met his unique circumstances - up at 4.30 a.m., a break in the middle of the day, and early to bed. The Open Polytechnic's flexible style of distance learning met his needs, and he embarked on the National Certificate in Production Management.

"I do my studying and assignments when it suits me, if something goes wrong on the farm I have to put my study down and go fix it, then come back later to carry on my study" says Mark. According to Mark the successful keys to studying this way are good organisation and planning.

Mark reckons having great tutors also helps. "It's really gratifying to know your tutors, even though miles away, are quite supportive - I'm really stoked with that." He says he has had excellent backup from his tutor who is always available to talk to him when he has a problem, and who regularly calls Mark to see how he's going.

The Open Polytechnic's flexibility certainly come to the fore when he was granted an extension on his assignments so that he can prepare for the regional finals of the 2005 Young Farmer of the Year contest held in April. It was Mark's first time in the competition, and it is testament to his skills and determination that he reached the Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional finals on his first attempt.

Mark's aim was to try to finish in the top six at the regionals, and he left no stone unturned in his preparation for the event. But tragedy struck when he sliced his finger open in the first event of the day trimming a cow's hoof. "I was determined to complete the competition though, so my Dad, who is an advanced paramedic, fixed me up and changed my dressing four times that day - there was blood everywhere."

It was only after completing the physical requirements of the competition that Mark finally took himself off to hospital where he received six stiches. Then it was back to the evening segment of the competition where Mark and the other contestants had to answer a series of general knowledge farming and identification questions. A segment of the competition where Mark finished a credible fourth.

While Mark's injury prevented him from achieving his goal of being in the top six in the competition, it hasn't dampened his desire to enter again. "After doing it once, it's like a bug, I definitely want to have another go and see if I can do better next year." Right now though, he is using the time off while he recovers from his injury to catch up on his Open Polytechnic study.

Mark's ultimate goal is to finish his current studies and move onto the National Diploma in Agribusiness Management, and to own his own dairy farm by the time he reaches 30.