FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final returns to Taranaki for Season 58
It’s been a long time coming, but the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final is returning to the Naki for Season 58.
The 2024 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Region-off is underway.
Principal sponsor FMG is reminding locals to get on board with earning points to keep their region at the top of the table.
The FMG Region-off was a new feature in last year’s Young Farmer of the Year contest suite. The category saw AgriKids, Junior and Young Farmers competing in a regional showdown earning points through public voting and community focussed challenges.
FMG’s head of events, travel and sponsorship Charlotte Cooley says the seven Young Farmer regional communities now had six weeks to get to work earning points before the coveted Grand Final event held in Hamilton in early July.
“Last year’s community focussed challenges saw an outstanding 679 meals distributed to local communities, 13 trailer loads of firewood delivered and 55 local farmers helped out with on farm tasks like drenching and crutching.”
“A big thanks in advance to all the parents, teachers, community leaders and contributors who help make things happen. We are looking forward to seeing what community focussed work goes on this year by the regions looking to take out the top spot.”
Previous iterations of FMG’s community level element of the competition have included the People’s Choice Award.
“We had some great engagement with People’s Choice over the years but the Region-off allows the very regions these Young Farmers represent the opportunity to benefit from their competitiveness”.
Last year’s winners were the East Coast who took home $5000 for their chosen charity, East Coast Rural Support Trust.
Craighead Diocesan, Darfield High School and Christchurch Boys' High School took out the three age groups at the Canterbury Clash of the Colleges, which was held at the recent Ashburton A&P Show.
The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM) is expanding its collaboration with TextileGenesis to deliver full traceability for 100% of ZQ certified wool and ZQRX regenerative wool.
According to Federated Farmers, Environment Southland has mishandled the consent process for Waituna Lagoon, leaving the community with numerous bad outcomes.
Metallica's charitable foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), teamed up with Meet the Need this week for a food packing event held at the New Zealand Food Network warehouse in Auckland.
After two years, Alliance Group has returned to profit.
According to Zespri's November forecast for the 2025/26 season, returns are likely to be up for all fruit groups compared to the last forecast in August.

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