Thomas Slee has won the FMG Young Farmer of the Year 2026 Otago Southland regional final.
Thomas Slee has won the FMG Young Farmer of the Year 2026 Otago Southland regional final.
Another dairy farmer is now in the running for national victory after being crowned Otago Southland’s top young farmer.
Thomas Slee, 28, from Nightcaps, was announced as the winner of the Otago Southland FMG Young Farmer of the Year on Saturday evening, after spending the day competing in a seriesof challenges at the Gore A&P Showgrounds in Southland
“It’s pretty surreal,” Slee said.
“I guess the prep starts now for Grand Final.”
The FMG Young Farmer of the Year is a highlight in the rural calendar.
It boasts a strong track record of showcasing the rising stars in New Zealand’s food and fibre sector by igniting contestants’ competitive streak and setting the bar for excellence in agriculture.
Three age-based categories were featured in the competition.
Primary school pupils tackled 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.
Slee clocked up the most points on the day with 271, defeating Henry Smith (258) from Clinton and Harry McCallum (234) from Te Anau.
The competition featured five challenges, including the Agri-Sports and a buzzer-style quiz that rewards quick thinking.
Each task was crafted to expose how well contestants could apply their practical skills and technical knowledge while working against the clock.
Slee was calculated throughout the day, focusing on the details across his modules and the Agri-sports.
The head-to-head featured the contestants making a possum trap after being given a trap to look at at the start of the challenge.
It was a great day with hundreds turning out for the final, along with those spectators casting their eyes over as they walked around the rest of the Gore A&P Show.
2026 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Otago Southland regional final. Harry McCallum (third), Thomas Slee (winner) and Henry Smith (second place).
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 NSC team (Northern Southland College, Slade, Fletcher and Lucian) took out the top spot for the AgriKids NZ, followed by the Limehills Young Farmers (Limehills School, Angus, Will and Hunter) and Drummond Duck shooters (Drummond School, Toby, Jack and Cole), rounding out the top three.
Thomas Slee takes part in the practical challenges at the Otago Southland regional final of the FMG Young Farmer of the Year.
Meanwhile, Lara Heiss and Emily Reid from Blue Mountain College took out the Junior Young Farmer of the Year title for Otago Southland and Jack Horrel and Hunter Norman from Southland Boys High School came in second.
Along with Slee, the top three AgriKids NZ and top two FMG Junior teams will now compete in July’s grand final in New Plymouth.
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, with Season 58 turning over the highest attendance of entrants in recent years.
“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.”
