Ashburton local a strong contender for Young Farmer of the Year

George Letham, young Ashburton farmer, races through his practical skills test at the 2025 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final. Supplied.

A young Ashburton farmer is among the top contenders at this year’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year regional finals.

After a top three podium placement last year, in the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final, 28-year-old George Letham is keen to put his hat in the ring for a second time.  

The winner at the Aorangi regionals will progress to the grand final in July, joining six other regional winners for a chance to take home the national title.

No stranger to the intense competition, Letham will be competing again this year at the 2026 Aorangi regional qualifier, set to take place on Saturday January 31 at the Woodbury Domain.

Letham has been training hard since Christmas.

“I’m trying to brush up on the things you don’t do day-to-day, like fencing, sheep shearing, and drenching. A big part of what I could have done better at the Grand Final was keeping calm and keeping my energy levels up, so working on my endurance is also top of my list.” 

Letham recently moved back to Ashburton from Lincoln, and began a new role with Dairy Holdings Limited as a supervisor, managing five farms across Canterbury. 

A new member of Hinds Young Farmers Club, “moving back to Ashburton has been a homecoming for me”, Letham said.

“There’s a lot of learning going on in the role that I hope to bring into the competition, and meeting new people at the Hinds Young Farmers Club means my network is branching out.” 

NZ Young Farmers Aorangi convener, Penny Stilgoe, said contestants like Letham should “expect the unexpected.” 

While aspiring contestants can expect to be put through their paces as usual, event organisers are also keen to keep them on their toes, as they make their way through rounds of challenges that will test their practical skills and technical knowledge.

“We’ve got dairy, contracting, sheep and beef, and more...we’re showcasing how much our young farmers get up to and the realities of day-to-day farm life,” Stilgoe said.

“It’s about challenging our regional finalists on a range of skill sets that they need to have to succeed in the industry.” 

Contestants should expect random challenges from across the industry, as well as day-to-day life, Stilgoe said, even including some domestic skills.

“Everybody is welcome to come along and support our local teams,” Stilgoe told the Guardian.

Entry for audiences is free, and every year, the rural talent only gets better.

Following hotly contested district competitions, sporting by far the highest attendance in recent years, the 2026 finalists have already done well to make it to regional finals.  

“While the hard work isn’t over,” Stilgoe said, “my advice to them is to go out there and have fun.” 

“The day is a true celebration of agriculture and the people who drive it – with a healthy dose of competition of course,” said NZ Young Farmers CEO Cheyne Gillooly.

The contest is well-loved in Aorangi, and around the country, and for Letham and his competitors, anticipation is running high.