A young farmer from the Waikato has his last chance this year to win NZ’s ultimate farming title.

The Piarere young farmer went from building to farming then back again before entering one of the country’s most prestigious farming contests for his last chance at stardom.

Thirty-year-old Dennis Main has never quite escaped rural life, and the jack-of-all-trades wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s hoping his skills will work to his benefit in the upcoming FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final.

“I’m excited to draw on my experiences and I hope they can all contribute. My club and community have given me heaps of support, and I hope I’ll make them proud as I navigate the unknown ahead.”

Dennis Main competing at the Waikato BOP regional final. Photo: Supplied.

Following in the footsteps of last year’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year Emma Poole, all eyes will be on the Waikato Bay of Plenty.

“The adrenaline will be pumping. I’ve got some big shoes to fill.”

The FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final kicks off in Hamilton on Thursday, July 11 and runs over three days.

With thousands of spectators watching on, seven grand finalists will race against the clock and each other in a series of high-pressure challenges designed to test them on their farming knowledge and ability to think quickly.

The title of ‘FMG Young Farmer of The Year’ and over $90,000 worth of prizes will be up for grabs.

Fourteen FMG Junior Young Farmers of the Year teams will also compete for a national title, along with 63 AgriKidsNZ competitors from across New Zealand.

Te Awamutu College students Summer Korkie and Luke Pease are excited about the opportunity the FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final will give them. They hope their background in equestrian and dairy farming will give them an edge other teams may not have.

“Luke and I have been hard at work practising our practical skills, and we visited Fieldays to pick up some extra information," says Summer.

"Now, we’re patiently waiting for the speech topic and prompts so we can crack on with some further study.”

Dennis Main competing at the Waikato BOP regional final. Photo: Supplied.

The FMG Young Farmer of the Year competition is dedicated to showcasing the very best talent in New Zealand’s food and fibre sector. Now in its 56th year, the title of ‘FMG Young Farmer of the Year’ is held up as one of the most prestigious farming awards in the country.

The event, while popular with contestants, is also a fan favourite. The 2023 Grand Final in Timaru attracted hundreds of spectators, providing a substantial boost to the local economy over three days.

New Zealand Young Farmers Chief Executive Lynda Coppersmith says this year’s Grand Final contestants come from a wide range of backgrounds – so picking a winner is anyone’s guess.

“We’ve got sheep and beef farmers, a fencing contractor, an agri-manager and even a builder – it just goes to show the depth and variety of skills in Aotearoa and highlights the diversity of the food and fibre sector today.”

Lynda says a key highlight for her is watching the next generation of young farmers compete.

“The AgriKids and FMG Junior participants represent schools across the country. Their knowledge, skills and passion for the industry is impressive and certainly leaves us excited for the future of farming.”

New Zealand’s primary sector exports were worth more than $57 billion in the year to June 2023, accounting for 81.9 per cent of New Zealand’s merchandise exports. NZ Young Farmers has been part of the backbone of this primary industry for nearly 100 years, nurturing and supporting talent while growing connected communities.

Coppersmith says it’s the regional communities and volunteers who have made the FMG Young Farmer of the Year the prestigious event it is today.

“We simply couldn’t do it without the tireless work of our local committees, communities and volunteers. These are people who support us year in, year out, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has played a part.”

The FMG Young Farmer of the Year Contest is proudly supported by FMG, Ravensdown, WorkSafe, Ministry for Primary Industries, Milwaukee, Woolworths, Honda, Lincoln University, Massey University, PTS Logistics, New Holland and Bushbuck.