Meet the finalists: Jack Taggart

Giving the finals a red hot crack

The Woodbury Domain erupted with applause, when Coldstream local Jack Taggart was announced as the winner of the Aorangi Young Farmers regionals.

“This is Jack’s year”, said Aorangi Chairman Mitch Aldrigre, cheering along with the crowd. “He really deserves this, we’re all rooting for him.”

26 year-old Taggart, a young dairy farmer from the Hinds Young Farmers Club, usually spends his days at Skibbereen Farm in Coldstream, where he manages the 680-head herd.

But this year, Taggart will also have to carve out some time to study, in preparation for the Young Farmers Grand Final this November.

A generational farmer, Taggart was “born and bred in Ashburton”, and there’s still nowhere else he’d rather be.

“I was always that school kid who would spend every other second on the farm,” he laughed.

At 17, with his University Entrance already secured, Taggart left Mt Hutt College early and spent 9 months shepherding in kiwi High Country before he started at Lincoln University: where he completed a Diploma of Agriculture, a Diploma of Farm Management, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Agriculture.

As a young University student, Taggart joined the Young Farmers competition for the first time, qualifying for the Tasman Regionals. 

And from then on, he told the Guardian, “I was well and truly hooked”.

The recent competition at the Woodbury Domain was Taggart's 5th shot at the regional finals, after he had competed twice for the Tasman region, and twice for Aorangi.

“I always enjoyed the challenge,” Taggart said. “But that pressure cooker environment [at Young Farmers] can make things tough.”

This year though, Taggart had an ace up his sleeve. 

Despite winning the regionals, Taggaet had no plans to qualify for the Grand Finals this year.

His original goal was to grab another opportunity to wheel-out his skills, and then qualify next year for the Grand Final in Christchurch 2027.

“I didn’t really stress about a single thing,” Taggart said.

“Removing all that pressure is what gave me the advantage I think”.

While the rest of the crowd celebrated Taggart’s well-deserved win, for Taggart himself, excitement came second.

“My very first thought was just, oh shit, what have I got myself into now?” Taggart laughed.

“It’s definitely been a long time coming, and I still can’t quite believe it”, he said.

For a very busy Taggart, preparing for the Grand Final is mostly happening on the job, and he is still focused on the day to day of farm life; keeping both stock and Fonteara happy campers.

“At the moment it’s a very full plate,” Taggart said.

“But I am very grateful for all the support from my employers, and the Hinds Club”.

Skibbereen Farm has given Taggart two extra days off a fortnight, to study for Young Farmers, and every challenge on the farm is an opportunity for this finalist.

Every fence that needs repair, every flat tire, or farm invoice that comes Taggart’s way, is a chance for him to practice “high volume under pressure”.

But Taggart knows he also needs to spend some time “hitting the books”.

Although he excelled in the practical challenges of the competition, Taggart freely admits that the theory components of the challenge aren’t his strong suit.

But Taggart’s love for the farm trumps his aversion to the library.

“I’m mad about dairy, I just love it,” he laughed.

Taggart also has the backing of the Hinds Young Farmers Club, who successfully propelled him through to Regionals, and intend to carry him all the way to New Plymouth.

Young Farmers is a community, more than a competition, Taggart said.

"You're working with these amazing people who are so enthusiastic about what we’re doing in New Zealand agriculture.”

“I feel very spoiled to have the opportunity,” he told the Guardian.

Surrounded by friends and mentors, freely donating time, advice, and experience, excitement for the rest of the year is building.

“It’s got a really good flavour about it, 2026,” Taggart said.

Next year, Taggart will be moving into contract milking, but he has found his place here in Ashburton, and he has no plans to leave Mid Canterbury anytime soon.

“This is the land of milk and honey in my mind. It has everything I need, and nothing I don’t.”

With plans to one day expand into 50/50 sharemilking, Taggart told the Guardian, “I’m at a real growth stage in my career now, and that’s always exciting.” 

Ahead of the Grand Final, Ashburton’s finalist is exactly where he wants to be, “outside in the fresh air”.

And although Taggart is finals bound a year ahead of schedule, he is determined to give New Plymouth “a red hot crack”.