Slee keeps family tradition alive with Young Farmer title
- Claire Inkson
- Jul 6
- 5 min read
Otago Southland dairy farmer Tom Slee has become the third member of his family to win the FMG Young Farmer of the Year title after a dramatic late comeback at the Grand Final in New Plymouth.
The reality of winning New Zealand’s most prestigious farming competition had still not fully sunk in for Slee when he returned south.
“It’s pretty surreal,” the 29-year-old said. “It’s very cool.”
Slee claimed the national title on July 4 after a demanding Grand Final contested by seven regional champions and featuring written exams, interviews, public speaking, practical modules and technical challenges.
Heading into the final Agri-Knowledge quiz, he was sitting in third place behind Aorangi representative Jack Taggart and Waikato Bay of Plenty’s Cam Clayton.
Slee knew there was little room for caution.
“I was pretty nervous, so I just had to go for it,” he said.
“There were definitely some nerves there, and I think all the supporters were sitting on the edge of their seats for a while.”
A dominant performance during the buzzer rounds carried him to the top of the leaderboard, with Taggart finishing runner-up by just 10 points and Clayton taking third place.
The comeback carried a strong sense of family history.
Slee’s father, Richard Slee, won the Young Farmer of the Year title in 1999 after mounting a similar late charge, while his uncle Simon Hopcroft took the title in 2004.
Slee’s victory makes him the third member of the family to win and the 14th champion from Otago Southland. It also returns the trophy to the region for the first time since Season 50.
Slee said the family connection brought a mixture of pressure and motivation but also gave him an experienced support team.
“There was pressure, but they were also really good support,” he said.
“They definitely helped with my training and throughout the few days we were up there.”
That support extended well beyond his immediate family.
More than 60 people made the journey north to cheer him on, including former Lincoln University mates who travelled across to New Plymouth for the event.
“It was pretty cool,” Slee said.
“I even had some old mates from Lincoln driving across to be there. It was very special.”
While the technical component of the competition rewarded preparation, Slee said the practical day was the toughest part of the Grand Final.
“The practical day was definitely hard for me, both mentally and physically,” he said.
“I felt pretty prepared for the technical day. You had everything there, and if you had done the preparation, it paid off.
“The practical day was more about seeing how things unfolded. You had to do a lot of things on the fly.”
Contestants were given just two hours to work through a series of farm-based tasks.
“I think I could have been there for another three hours trying to get everything done,” Slee said.
Alongside the overall title, Slee won the Agri-business and Agri-Knowledge sections, taking his total prize package to more than $90,000.
New Zealand Young Farmers chief executive Cheyne Gillooly said Slee had impressed judges with his broad skill set, leadership qualities and commitment to the food and fibre sector.
“It’s incredibly exciting to see the title go to Tom, someone who is not only an exceptional farmer, but also a strong ambassador for the next generation of people working in the sector,” Gillooly said.
He said the standard of competition had been exceptionally high.
“Every one of these finalists should be immensely proud of what they’ve achieved.
“These young farmers represent the very best of our sector, and the talent, leadership and commitment they’ve shown gives me a lot of confidence in the future.”
Gillooly also acknowledged the volunteers, supporters and sponsors who worked behind the scenes to make the competition possible.
“It’s the people behind the scenes who make this competition what it is,” he said.
“We’re hugely appreciative of everything they give to make it happen.”
For Slee, the greatest opportunity from the win was not the prize package, but the platform the title would give him during the coming year.
“For me, it is really about the opportunity to represent agriculture in New Zealand,” he said.
“The prizes are pretty cool, but being able to represent young people and people in farming is a big opportunity and a privilege. I’m looking forward to that.”
Slee has already had a taste of the influence that comes with the title, receiving messages from parents whose children competed in AgriKidsNZ.
“We have had some really nice calls from AgriKids parents congratulating us and saying their children are looking up to me as a role model,” he said.
“That is pretty special.”
Despite the celebrations, there was little time to pause.
The official function continued until about 3am, leaving Slee and his supporters “a bit dusty” the following day.
After flying back to Invercargill in poor weather, he was soon answering phone calls and heading to a farming discussion group meeting.
Farm work, including the approaching calving season, also remained firmly on the agenda.
Slee said he was proud to represent both Otago Southland and farmers around the country, and hoped his win would encourage others to put themselves forward.
“Give it a go,” he said.
“It is a pretty cool way to put yourself out there against some of the best in the country, while learning and developing your skills.”
The competition had challenged him beyond technical and practical farming ability, particularly through the interviews, public speaking and constant attention surrounding the Grand Final.
“The last few days have definitely challenged me, particularly with interviews, speaking to different people and learning how to handle different situations,” he said.
“You always have to be learning something new. That is probably what I have enjoyed about the whole process.”
Runner-up in the FMG Young Farmer of the Year was Aorangi representative Jack Taggart, who finished just 10 points behind Slee, while Waikato Bay of Plenty’s Cam Clayton placed third.
The Grand Final also included the FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year and AgriKidsNZ competitions, showcasing the next generation of talent coming through the sector.
Waikato Bay of Plenty pair Benjamin Barbour and Toby Christensen, from Putaruru College and John Paul College, won the 2026 FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year title after strong performances in the technical modules and final face-off.
East Coast team Sophie Storrar and Hannah Newman, from Woodford House, finished second, while Aorangi representatives Emma Kinzett and Megan Nish, from Mt Hutt College, placed third. Newman was also named FMG Junior Contestant of the Year.
Waikato Bay of Plenty completed a clean sweep of the youth titles when Otewa Gumboot Gang, from Otewa School, were crowned the 2026 AgriKidsNZ Grand Champions.
Halcombe Black, representing Taranaki Manawatū, finished second, while Aorangi team Beaconfield Redbands placed third. Jack Jeeves was named AgriKidsNZ Contestant of the Year.
Comments