Two bright young talents from North Canterbury have taken out one of New Zealand’s most prestigious youth farming titles, while a seasoned competitor from Waikato has finally claimed the top honour at the 2025 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final in Invercargill.

John Lundy and Harry Parish, both Year 12 students at Rangiora High School, were crowned the FMG Junior Young Farmers of the Year, battling it out against 13 other school teams from across the country in early July.

Their sharp knowledge, steady teamwork, and well-rounded agri-skills saw them come out on top after a fiercely close competition.

“We’ve put in a lot of work and talked to a lot of people. We didn’t quite make the Grand Final last year, but we did this year, and we’ve taken it out,” said Lundy, still buzzing from the win.

“It’s still sinking in, but I’m really excited about it.”

The pair’s path to victory started with a casual conversation.

“He pretty much just asked me at school one day if I wanted to do the high school version of Young Farmers, and it pretty much just went from there,” said Parish, who brings strengths in dairy and science, while Lundy shines in practical skills and sheep and beef.

They competed in last year’s regional final, narrowly missing the Grand Final.

This year, they not only won regionals but went on to take out the Module and Farmlet sections nationally and edged out their rivals by just six points in the Face Off buzzer quiz.

The win is especially significant for Rangiora High School, with Parish noting, “As far as I’m aware, we’re only the second team from our school to make a Grand Final, so we’re very proud.”

Preparation was key.

“We thought we better do a bit more for the nationals,” said Lundy.

“We talked to industry experts and local farmers. When the tips and tricks sheet came out, we homed in on that stuff.

“We also looked at previous years: building, fencing, water.

“You know they’re going to come up.”

Both students were quick to credit their parents and teachers for their support.

“Our parents got us to Invercargill and helped us prepare, that’s where the majority of our support came from,” said Parish.

The pair can no longer compete at high school level but have their sights set on the senior title in the future.

“We’ve got ten or twelve years to think about it,” Lundy laughs. “There’s definitely a lot more involved, but it’s something we’ll look at doing down the track.”

A trio from Seddon School, Liam Underwood (11), Fred Maher (11) and Manawa Doonan (11) took out the title of AgriKidsNZ Grand Champions, winning the Race Off module and member Liam Underwood taking out AgriKidsNZ Contestant of the Year overall.

While the juniors celebrated, the spotlight on the Saturday night shifted to the senior title-FMG Young Farmer of the Year- where 26-year-old Hugh Jackson from Waikato-Bay of Plenty claimed the coveted crown.

Jackson, a sheep and beef farmer from Te Akau, was named New Zealand’s top young farmer after a nail-biting finish to the Grand Final.

It was his second shot at the title and one he described as “now or never.”

“It’s been a lot of years in the making. I’m really relieved to get here,” Jackson said after the win.

“It was a nerve-wracking last couple of hours, so to get that weight off my shoulders is massive.”

Jackson impressed across the board, winning the Community Footprint module, AgriBusiness challenge, and AgriSports section.

Known for his passion for mental health and farming technology, Jackson hopes the title will give him a platform to showcase the talent coming through the sector.

“Where the industry is moving in terms of technology is exciting, and there’s an opportunity to really grow people and provide career pathways.”

With rising stars like Lundy and Parish ready to follow in Jackson’s footsteps, the future of New Zealand’s food and fibre sector looks to be in capable, forward-thinking hands.

By Claire Inkson