At the age of 22, James Robertson not only achieved a long-held ambition to be named FMG Young Farmer of the Year, he also made history as the youngest ever Grand Final winner.
After years of build-up, the three days of competition went by really quickly,” recalls James. “I occasionally find myself watching the highlight reel from the event, it brings back great memories of the grit and smiles throughout the day.”
At the time James, who grew up on a Waikato dairy farm and gained an agricultural commerce degree from Massey University, was a member of Fonterra’s trade strategy team.
He is now chief of staff, based in Auckland and overseeing and coordinating strategic initiatives, streamline business processes and decision-making across the co-operative.
He says that for him, the highlights of the competition and Grand Final were the people he met.
“Whether it be my fellow contestants, the volunteers, the sponsorship family, the supporters, or the Junior Young Farmers and Agri Kids -- seeing the energy from everyone involved and the level of passion for our sector was a real highlight.”
His biggest challenge was maintaining balance and energy.
“You tend to gravitate towards things that you are good at, both in the training and the competition itself. But you need to be a well-rounded farmer to be able to compete, so in many instances I had to consciously challenge myself to do the things I didn’t enjoy or was naturally gifted at.
“I most enjoyed the variety of tasks we had to complete. Each challenge tested different skills, from practical farming tasks to business acumen. It was a great way to showcase the diverse skill set required in farming.”
James says the biggest takeaways from competing was recognising that you can truly learn anything if you have the right mindset and support network.
“It is really hard for someone to say ‘no’ to teaching you, if you are passionate about learning. For me, winning the Grand Final had been a goal since I was a junior Young Farmer growing up on the family farm.
“Winning opened up more opportunities than I could have imagined and has accelerated my journey in the agricultural sector.”
Like many other Grand Final winners, he’s still in touch with his fellow contestants.
“We do keep in touch although we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like. You build a unique bond during the competition, and it's great to have a network of peers across the country who share similar passion and experiences.
“I really encourage young people to get involved in organisations like New Zealand Young Farmers. They provide invaluable experiences and opportunities that can shape your career and personal growth. The agricultural sector is full of potential, and I encourage young people to explore it.”
