A team of East Anglian students represented their country against 19 other European nations at a 'farming Olympics' in Germany.

%image(14753725, type="article-full", alt="A team of students from Easton and Otley College represented their country at the "Agrolympics" in Germany. Pictured from left: Oliver Tyrell, Luke Womack, Dan Goodwin and George Paterson. Picture: Charlie Askew.")

The learners from Easton and Otley College competed in the two-day Agrolympics event, which featured a series of agricultural skills challenges including building, fencing, spreading fertiliser, reversing tractors, stock judging and using a telehandler.

The team comprised Luke Womack from Carleton Rode near Attleborough, Dan Goodwin from Bury St Edmunds, George Paterson from Great Tey near Colchester, and 21-year-old Oliver Tyrrell from Martham, who works for the Euston Estate near Thetford. He said: 'For someone who wants to learn more about farming, seeing other countries and watching how they react and work in an everyday sense was very interesting.'

Charlie Askew, who works for the agricultural department at Easton and Otley College said: 'It was great that we were involved and it was a proud moment to be behind our flag and represent our country.

'We came 17th overall but did particularly well in negotiating a very tricky tractor driving course, apple pressing, rebuilding an engine and changing the points on a cultivator.

'The lads gave their all and learned a great deal about themselves and their European friends.'

The farming festival was organised by EUROPEA – an EU organisation that promotes vocational education in the green sector.