Rules Of The Competition

Macra Na Feirme conducted an annual 'Young Farmer of the Year' competition. Rules for entry were rigid. Candidates had to be six feet in height, forty-two inch chest, had to be farming for at least two years. Previous winners of the competition could enter too. The prize each year was a fortnight in Spain with Miss Ireland. On the night of one contest the judges walked down along the lines of men, inspecting them. Muscles bulged, chests expanded, shoulders were drawn back as each Adonis posed for the judges. At the end of the line there stood a sickly looking weakling, bent and worn-looking. 'How did you manage to gain entry to the competition?' asked the chief judge. 'I won it last year, sir,' came the answer.