Cam Clayton Eyes Last Shot at FMG Young Farmer Title
“Pack your thinking caps. You need more than just farming knowledge for this one.”
Douglas McGregor is the seventh grand finalist to be named in the 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest.
The thirty-year-old dairy farmer took first place at the Northern Regional Final in Dargaville on Saturday 18 April after a very tense and closely scored competition.
McGregor went home with a prize pack worth over $10,000 including cash, scholarships, and products and services.
This was McGregor's second attempt at regional final level of the ANZ Young Farmer Contest. He is a very active member of the Bay of Island Young Farmers Club and is the Northern Region vice-chairman. McGregor was competing against 26-year-old Anna Simpson, who doubles as the winner's partner.
Second place went to 28-year-old herd manager, Guy Bakewell, of the Bay of Islands Young Farmers Club. He took home $2,900 worth of prizes. Bakewell also took home top honours in both the Lincoln University Agri-Growth Challenge and the Ravensdown Agri-Skills Challenge.
Third place went to Whangarei Young Farmers Club member, Jake Thompson (26). Thompson won the AGMARDT Agri-Business Challenge. Fourth place went to Colin Beazley (28) from the Kaipara Young Farmers Club – Colin was called up to compete a week before the regional final after one Contestant broke his collarbone.
The Silver Fern Farms Agri-Sports Challenge winner was 26-year-old Kelvin Meek of the Franklin Young Farmers Club.
Douglas McGregor is the last Grand Finalist selected for the 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest. He will join six Contestants from around the country in Taupo 2 – 4 July at Grand Final in a bid to take home the title of 2015 ANZ Young Farmer Contest Grand Champion.
Horticulture New Zealand’s Board has welcomed the re-election of grower-elected directors Alistair Petrie and Doug Brown.
The bright ideas of New Zealand's primary sector have been celebrated with an announcement of the winners of the 2026 Innovation Awards.
Newly appointed Federated Farmers vice president Sandra Faulkner says she is honoured and excited to hold the role.
New Zealand's top fencers were out in force at National Fieldays this month, demonstrating their skills with the ever-reliable number 8 wire.
New Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst says he will ensure that farmer voices are heard loud and clear wherever decisions are being made.
Paynes Titus Excelsior ET, an LIC bull bred by Brad Payne and Claire Brodie in the Waikato, has won the JT Thwaites Sire of the Season 2026 Award.

OPINION: Central Hawke's Bay farmer Mark Warren recently told the Hawke's Bay Times it's time for a conversation about allowing…
OPINION: A nation that relies as heavily as NZ does on functional global shipping lanes will have to do its…