“Expect the unexpected.”
That’s the message from NZ Young Farmers Aorangi convenor, Penny Stilgoe, to contestants polishing up their skills ahead of this year’s regional finals event set to take place on Saturday 31st January at the Woodbary Domain, 8km inland of Geraldine.
While contestants can expect to be put through their paces - as usual – event organisers are ensuring there will be plenty to keep contestants on their toes as they make their way through a series of tough challenges designed to test their practical skills, technical knowledge, and ability to work fast under pressure.
28-year-old George Letham has put his hat in the ring for a second time following his top three podium placement in the 2025 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final. No stranger to the competition, Letham has ramped up his training since Christmas, hoping to secure another chance to win FMG Young Farmer of the Year.
“I’m trying to brush up on the things you don’t do day-to-day, like fencing, sheep shearing, and drenching. A big part of what I could have done better at Grand Final was keeping calm and keeping my energy levels up, so working on my endurance is also top of my list.”
Stilgoe says contestants like Letham need to expect random challenges from across the industry, as well as day-to-day life – including some domestic skills, she laughs.
“We’ve got dairy, contracting, sheep and beef, and more...we’re showcasing how much our young farmers get up to and the realities of day-to-day farm life. It’s about challenging our regional finalists on a range of skill sets that they need to have to succeed in the industry.”
The FMG Young Farmer of the Year is a highlight in the rural calendar, boasting a strong track record of showcasing the rising stars in New Zealand’s food and fibre sector – igniting contestants’ competitive streak and setting the bar for excellence in farming.
Letham, a member of Hinds Young Farmers Club, recently moved back to Ashburton from Lincoln, starting a new role with Dairy Holdings Limited as a Supervisor managing five farms across Canterbury.
“Moving back to Ashburton has been a homecoming for me.”
“There’s a lot of learning going on in the role that I hope to bring into the competition, and meeting new people at the Hinds Young Farmers Club means my network is branching out.”
NZ Young Farmers CEO Cheyne Gillooly says the long-standing contest is well-loved in Aorangi and around the country because it gives talented young farmers space to shine in the spotlight and connect with like-minded others, which can be hard to do in the industry.
“With our AgriKidsNZ events for primary-aged competitors and FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year competitions running alongside the Regional Finals Young Farmers event, collectively the day is a true celebration of agriculture and the people who drive it – with a healthy dose of competition of course,” says Gillooly.
This year, ten primary schools, and five high schools from Aorangi have thrown their hat in the ring.
Stilgoe says following hotly contested district competitions – with the highest attendance in recent years – the 2026 finalists have already cut their teeth to make it to the region finals.
“While the hard work isn’t over, my advice to them is to go out there and have fun.”
The FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest is proudly supported by FMG, Ravensdown, MPI, Milwaukee, Honda, Lincoln University, PTS, New Holland, Bushbuck and ACC
For more information on the regional finals across Aotearoa visit youngfarmers.co.nz/contest/regional-finals
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