FMG Young Farmer title finalists
Four dairy farmers are among the seven finalists vying for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year title.
Steve Henderson is the first Grand Finalist to be named in the 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest.
The 29-year-old sharemilker took first place at the Otago/Southland Regional Final in Queenstown on Saturday, February 7.
Henderson went home with a prize pack worth over $10,000 including cash, scholarships and products and services. He also won the Lincoln University Agri-Growth and Ravensdown Agri-Skills challenges.
This was Henderson’s third attempt at regional final level of the ANZ Young Farmer Contest. He is a very active member of the Waitane Young Farmers Club as well as the Winton Fire Brigade. He sharemilks 320 cows on a 112ha property alongside his wife Tracy near Winton.
Henderson is off to the Grand Final in Taupo, July 2-4 where he will battle it out for the Champion’s title and more than $270,000 in prizes.
The Otago/Southland Regional Final featured a strong group of contestants with plenty of knowledge and talent on display. The eight contestants were required to complete a variety of challenges that all touched on all aspects of farming from practical hands-on tasks to theory and business components.
Second place went to 25-year-old Waipahi sheep farmer, Logan Wallace, of the South Otago Young Farmers Club. He took home $2,900 worth of prizes.
Third place went to Riverton dairy farmer John White (30) and fourth place went to Justin Davie (26), of the Thornbury Young Farmers Club.
The AGMARDT Agri-Business Challenge winner was John White and Justin Davie won the Silver Fern Farms Agri-Sports Challenge.
The 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest features seven regional finals culminating in the Grand Final.
Entries opened on Monday, 5 October 2026 for the 2027 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA), which organisers describe as the nation's biggest celebration of excellence in the dairy sector.
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
A Labour-led Government won’t be bringing back the controversial freshwater rules of 2020.
National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…