Now six young rural professionals — three from New Zealand and three from Australia — have been selected as finalists for the award, which recognises future leaders working in agriculture.
The award, nowin its 11th year, also offers a prize package, that includes tailored mentoring educational opportunities, and a platform for future growth.
The awards are named after Zanda McDonald, who was prominent in Australian beef and livestock and worked tirelessly to encourage young people to join the industry.
McDonald died in April 2013 at the age of 41, following a tragic accident on his Queensland cattle property.
2025 Zanda McDonald Award NZ finalist, Hamish Best.
This 34-year-old sheep and beef farmer is the founder of the red meat brand Conscious Valley, Wellington.
Maegen Blom
2025 Zanda McDonald Award NZ finalist. Maegan Blom. Photo / K. Ingram
Operations manager of family business Mills Bay Mussels, Marlborough, (24).
Sarah How
2025 Zanda McDonald Award NZ finalist, Sarah How. Photo / Lightchasers
Co-founder and general manager of Landify Ltd, South Canterbury, (33).
The three New Zealanders sit alongside Australian finalists, Will Creek (35), general manager - properties livestock for vertically integrated beef and cattle company Stanbroke, Queensland; Jack O’Connor (32), manager of Oxton Park (family cropping, wool and prime lamb farm), based in Harden, Southern NSW; and Felicity Taylor (29), area manager at Rabobank, Moree, Country NSW.
Founder and chairman of the Zanda McDonald Awards Shane McManaway said that, 11 years on, there were now over 50 award alumni.
“It just brings some of the very, very best people in our sector to the top, and the three [New Zealand finalists] are an absolute example of that” he told The Country’s Jamie Mackay.
