For the 11th year running, FMG was proud to support Season 58 FMG Young Farmer of the Year, celebrating the passion, skill and leadership of the next generation of rural New Zealand. This year, Tom Slee was crowned the 2026 FMG Young Farmer of the Year after an outstanding performance across the three-day Grand Final in Taranaki, bringing the title home to Otago Southland for the first time since Season 50.
Going into the final evening in third place, Slee delivered a dominant buzzer-round in the Agri-Knowledge Quiz, which saw him surge to the top of the leader board and claim the title. Slee says he’s feeling “really good and proud” to take out the top spot. “It means a lot to win – just proud to represent Otago Southland”. Slee is the third member of his family to claim the title, following in the footsteps of his father Richard Slee (1999) and uncle Simon Hopcroft (2004).
The Grand Final also marked another successful FMG Region-off, with East Coast taking out the competition for only the second time. Built around the Farmstrong Five Ways to Wellbeing - take notice, connect, give, keep learning and be active. The Region-off encourages AgriKids, Junior Young Farmers and Young Farmers to give back to their communities while competing for regional pride. Alongside the title, the winners receive $5,000 for a charity of their choice, plus $1,000 for each level of the competition to support the continued development of young people in the food and fibre sector.
Looking forward to Season 59, the FMG Young Farmer Grand Final will be held in Christchurch.
