The 2026 East Coast Young Farmer of the Year, Edwin Laver, hunts for eggs in hay during a practical challenge.
Edwin Laver, 29, from Puketoi, was announced as the winner of the East Coast FMG Young Farmer of the Year on Saturday evening, after spending the day competing in a series of challenges at the Hawke’s Bay A&P Society.
Laver is no stranger to big competition. He’s taken part in the Coast to Coast Longest Day and Godzone.
Now he’s on track for the next big title – the Young Farmer of the Year grand final in July.
“I really enjoyed the day,” Laver said.
“The head-to-head was where I did well compared to the other competitors; you could see the pressure was getting to everyone”.
The FMG Young Farmer of the Year contest is a highlight in the rural calendar, showcasing the rising stars in New Zealand’s food and fibre sector.
Three age-based categories were featured in the competition.
Primary school pupils took part in AgriKids NZ, high school students competed for the FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year title, while eight finalists battled for the coveted Young Farmer of the Year crown.
Laver secured the most points on the day with 306, ahead of James Fox (302) from Tararua Young Farmers and Kaden van Gaalen (297), also from Tararua Young Farmers.
The competition featured five challenges, including Agri-Sports and a “buzzer-style” quiz that rewarded quick thinking.
Each task tested how well contestants applied their practical skills and technical knowledge while working against the clock.
Laver had good control throughout the day, ticking off each section of the practical challenges.
He seemed calm under the pressure of the day, moving smoothly from task to task and acing the head‑to‑head challenge.
Laver also had fun, despite some difficulty in the Agri‑Sports challenge, which involved a series of small tasks, and finished with finding eggs hidden among the hay.
“I’d found about five eggs, but I think a couple got smashed, so I had to find an extra one, which took up a bit of time,” he said.
“I also managed to get quite a few red flags, with a 30s one right at the end.
“But got it across the line in the end.”
It was a great day in Hastings with a large crowd turning out for all three competitions, a testament to all the hard work that Emma Ractliffe and the East Coast committee have put into the day.
“Big shout-out to Emma and her team for organising, it was awesome,” Laver said.
The AgriKids NZ competition saw New Zealand’s youngest farmers share their new-generation know-how across a series of modules, with the top teams then competing in the infamous race-off.
The Tiki Terriers (Tikokino School – Sid Trotter, George Cover and Hunter Bradley) took out the top spot, followed by Argyll Ag (Argyll East School – Bella Greer, William Greer and Richie Butler), with Sherwood Kids (Sherwood School – Casie de Malmanche, Evie White and Scarlett Tyler) rounding out the top three.
Meanwhile, Sophie Storrar and Hannah Newman from Woodford House took out the Junior Young Farmer of the Year title for East Coast, securing themselves a spot at the grand final.
In second place, James Redpath and Harry Sutherland from Napier Boys’ High School will join them.
Campbell Bassett and Hamish Bunny (Rathkeale College) came in third.
Along with Laver, the top three AgriKids NZ and top two Junior teams will now compete in July’s grand final in New Plymouth.
The grand final requires preparation, but Laver said he had a good support team.
“There are lots of people willing to help out, to help me get the resources I need; it will definitely be a team effort.”
New Zealand Young Farmers chief executive Cheyne Gillooly said it was great to see friends, family and Young Farmers club members supporting their fellow contestants.
She said Season 58 had the highest attendance of entrants in recent years.
“FMG Young Farmer of the Year is a true celebration of agriculture and the people who drive it,” Gillooly said.
“From the youngest contestant just beginning, to the oldest who is giving it their last shot, the strength in which people show up for their community makes me so proud of what Young Farmers represents.”
- Supplied by NZ Young Farmers.