FMG Young Farmer of the Year
We're proud sponsors of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Competition.
For over 50 years, this iconic event has celebrated the best and brightest in the industry, providing a platform for young farmers to demonstrate their expertise, leadership, and passion for agriculture.
Young farmers around the country compete in regional competitions, with the winners coming together to compete for the top spot. This year's Grand Final will be held in New Plymouth from 2-4 July.
Transcript – Lincoln Young Farmers
Speaker 1:
Lincoln and Young Farmers have a common purpose, and they've sort of come from similar roots. We're all about trying to train farmers and get farmers to come together, learn from each other as peers, and develop through the industry.
Speaker 2:
You don't see a sad person around here; everyone's trying. Everyone's here for the love of agriculture, and everyone loves supporting Young Farmers and youth in general. So, it's awesome.
Speaker 3:
Lincoln University has probably shaped me more into a character than I already was. I've had to certainly come into my own a wee bit. Being a part of the Lincoln Young Farmers Group has also helped a lot. Being on the executive committee has made me really step up into the world.
Speaker 4:
Lincoln University really helped me out because I got to have a really good one-on-one experience with the lecturers. You weren’t just another number in the system; they knew you, and you knew them. For me, that helped me kind of get into roles outside of university once I graduated.
This year's competition
We have many students and alumni in the regional finals this year. Here's how our students have done and who's in the upcoming competitions.
Aorangi — 31 January
- Jack Taggart LU – 1st place winner
- George Latham LU – 2nd place winner
- Danyon Benington – finalist
Otago Southland — 7 February
- Tom Slee – 1st place winner
- Lachlan Dudin – finalist
Tasman — 14 February
- Jack Dennehy-Coles – 2nd place winner
- Sam Back – finalist
- Amelia Marsden – finalist
- Luke Robb – finalist
East Coast — 14 March
- Ed Laver – finalist
Last year's competition
Two of last year's top three started their farming careers at Lincoln.
- Gareth McKerchar, Bachelor of Agriculture graduate - placed second.
- George Letham, Bachelor of Agricultural Science with Honours graduate - placed second.