With one more year available due to age restrictions, Louise made the huge commitment to try again in 2004 and took her second Waikato-Bay of Plenty regional final title and finished a creditable third in the Grand Final.
Next best female Grand Finalist is last year's fourth placegetter Lisa Kendall from Karaka. Previously Denise Brown (1981) and Katherine Tucker (2012) placed seventh.
Back in 2003, after placing second, Louise said being a female was not a disadvantage because the competition was a balance between skills and knowledge.
She believes the modern female contestants have every chance of going all the way to the top.
Louise, her husband Tony and their teenage children — born after she finished competing — continue to dairy farm on their north Otorohanga property.
A fourth-generation dairy farmer, Rachael was convinced by two-times previous regional finalist Sophia Clark to give it a go.
"This is the most women I've ever seen make it through to the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Regional Final," says Sophia.
The 29-year-old 50:50 sharemilks 270 cows at Waharoa near Matamata and works part-time for a seed company.
Last year she undertook the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme and explored strategies for a 50:50 sharemilker to cost-effectively improve their herd.
"It's awesome to see almost half the finalists are women," says 27-year-old Rachael.
"It'd be great to have another woman take out the regional final."
Rachael completed her agriculture degree at Massey and is in her first season 50:50 sharemilking 240 cows on her parent's property at Mangapiko. She has previously milked 440 ewes in England.
She milks once a day, something started by her father seven seasons ago, and says it works for her.
"Production is good, the cows aren't stressed and I can pretty much run the farm single handedly and have a life off the proeprty," she says.
"Happy cows, happy farmer."
A member of Te Kawa West Young Farmers for nine years, she has helped organsie the competition plenty of times before actually entering.
She says it is a real challenge and a great way to learn new skills and improve her abilities.
She is also enjoying meeting more people and extending her network within the industry she has chosen.
It'll be Zara Cosh's second time competing.
"It makes me feel proud to see a growing number of women taking on the blokes," said the 25-year-old who manages a 165-cow dairy farm at Huntly.
The trio will face off against four men, who are also all dairy farmers.
Josh Cozens is a qualified automotive service technician who contract milks 350 cows at Whakatane.
This will be his third attempt at clinching a spot in the grand final.
"Each time I've done the contest it's been different, so the variety makes taking part quite rewarding," says the 29-year-old.
Colin Tremain is also a career-changer.
The qualified builder helped construct the Te Mihi Power Station north of Taupo.
He now manages a 1750-cow dairy farm and support unit in Rotorua.
"We milk through two sheds. The farm employs four full-time and two part-time staff," said Colin.
"I really enjoy the personal development aspect of the contest."
Eoin O'Mahony contract milks 650 cows on a split-calving farm near Tokoroa.
He came runner-up Waikato Share Farmer of the Year in the 2017 NZ Dairy Industry Awards.
"I like the opportunities available for growth and succession in New Zealand," says Eoin who is from Ireland.
Andrew Wards grew up watching the FMG Young Farmer of the Year on television. He aspired to have a go when he was old enough.
The 22-year-old is in his first season lower order sharemilking on a 230-cow farm south of Otorohanga.
"I always aim to do the best I can," says Andrew, who is studying for a Diploma in Agribusiness Management through PrimaryITO.
The eighth spot in the contest, which was to be filled by Colby Harris, will be left vacant as a mark of respect following his sudden death in December.
Colby was second-in-charge on a 300-cow dairy farm at Huntly and a much-loved member of North Waikato Young Farmers.
The regional final is being held at the Rotorua A&P Showgrounds on March 10 and the evening show, hosted by Te Radar, is at the city's Novotel Hotel.
¦It's the 50th anniversary of the agricultural competition, first held in 1969.
