FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final returns to Taranaki for Season 58
It’s been a long time coming, but the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final is returning to the Naki for Season 58.
Four dairy farmers are among the seven finalists vying for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year title.
Waikato/Bay of Plenty’s Chris Poole, Tasman’s Jonny Brown, Otago/Southland’s Alex Field and Taranaki/Manawatu’s David Reesby will compete for the top title later this year.
For Waikato/Bay of Plenty’s Chris Poole, age 27, the competition is something of a family affair as his wife, Emma Dangen, was an FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Finalist in 2019.
Poole will also be competing against his brother-in-law, Tim Dangen, a sheep/beef farmer, in the 2022 Grand Final.
Tasman’s Jonny Brown manages a dairy farm for Dairy Holdings Ltd, which milks 1,300 cows, and has spent his career rising through the ranks of the industry.
Since graduating from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Agricultural Commerce and Land Valuation, the father of two has worked in contract milking and farm management mainly around the Canterbury region.
For Alex Field of Otago Southland, this marks the second time he has made it to the Grand Final.
Three years ago, in 2019, Field competed in the Grand Final, winning the award for outstanding leadership skills.
Taranaki Manawatu farmer David Reesby was named a grand finalist towards the end of March.
Reesby is second in charge at his family’s dairy farm near Oroua.
New Zealand Young Farmers chief executive Lynda Coppersmith has called the event series to-date a success.
The grand final event is scheduled to be held in Whangarei from the 7th to the 9th July.
As New Zealand marks International Day of Rural Women today, women from across the horticulture sector are calling attention to the crucial role they play in building a more sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient industry.
Listed rural trader PGG Wrightson chair Garry Moore and his deputy Sarah Brown have been voted out by shareholders.
It was love that first led Leah Prankerd to dairying.
DairyNZ has appointed Dr Jenny Jago to a newly created leadership team role - science partnerships & impact advisor - as part of a strategic refresh of the organisation's science leadership.
OPINION: Public pressure has led to Canterbury Police rightly rolling back its proposed restructure that would have seen several rural police stations closed in favour of centralised hubs.
When I interview Rachel Cox, she is driving - on her way to her next meeting.
OPINION: Voting is underway for Fonterra’s divestment proposal, with shareholders deciding whether or not sell its consumer brands business.
OPINION: Politicians and Wellington bureaucrats should take a leaf out of the book of Canterbury District Police Commander Superintendent Tony Hill.