Calling all hunky Aussie farmers for Rural Bachelor of the Year competition

HARD-WORKING Aussie hunks are invited to line up alongside Kiwi farmers for the Rural Bachelor of the Year competition, but they're running scared.

Young farmer

CALLING all hunky Australian farmers. The hunt for New Zealand's hottest rural bachelor has gone Australasian.

The only trouble, say organisers of the popular National Agricultural Fieldays event, is that Aussie farm blokes seem to be running scared.

Just one, a farmer from Sidonia, Victoria, has so far thrown his hat in the ring alongside a "great selection" of hard-working Kiwi lads.

"I'm not sure if they're just intimidated by the local competition or what," Fieldays communications executive Vicki Annison told AAP.

"But they're certainly not coming forward in a hurry, which is quite a surprise."

After a decade running the national competition, Fieldays decided to throw an invitation out across the Tasman for two good-looking farm types who will line up alongside six New Zealanders at the June farming event.

The eight will be vying for the Rural Bachelor the of the Year title and $NZ20,000 ($A16,747) in prizes, including a quad bike, Swanndri clothing, Skellerup boots and Stihl products.

For their trouble, they must attend Fieldays for an all-expenses-paid week of fierce competition that tests contestants' farming prowess and team spirit.

They may also get to strut their stuff on the catwalk wearing the latest in agricultural garb.

Contestants must be single, male, aged 18 or older and employed in the rural industry. Those with criminal convictions and pending court cases need not apply, Ms Annison said.

Entries for the Australian competitors close on May 24.

Anyone interested in competing for Australia should head to: www.fieldays.co.nz/ruralbachelor2013