Gareth back for another crack at Young Farmer Grand Final

Representing the Aorangi region, he’s amongst friendly competition, joined by fellow alumni George Leatham and Cam Smith.

Gareth had placed third in the previous year’s event. So what’s drawn him back?

“Basically, why not?” he said. “I think it’s probably going to be a bit of an advantage going back-to-back, just rolling off one year into the next. And yeah, it’s straight fun, so I was keen to rinse and repeat and give it another crack.”

The competition pushes contestants to know all the ins and outs of the food and fibre sector, a tough challenge, but one Gareth’s varied experience and time at Lincoln has helped him prepare for.

After graduating, he moved to Australia to work on a sheep and crop farm before returning home to a deer farming role in the Ashburton Gorge. From there, he joined Ravensdown to broaden his knowledge.

“I saw the opportunity to learn more outside the farm gate, and on more than just one farm.”

Until recently, Gareth had worked as a Senior Agri Manager at Ravensdown, supporting about 150 farms and recommending fertilisers to ensure their soil stayed healthy.

He has just started a new chapter as a Business Development Executive at Halter, looking after the South Canterbury region. The move tied into his long-term ambitions.

“Big picture, long-term plan is to own a farm. That is the goal, and so this job is a step in the right direction, both in the skills I am going to learn and the opportunities I’ll get.”

Gareth studied a Bachelor of Agriculture at Lincoln, laying a solid foundation.

“Lincoln taught me a lot about farm systems and how farms run. Pretty much the basis of everything I know, which is pretty cool.”

His Lincoln experience continued to play a big role in how he prepared for the Grand Final, especially this time around.

“It’s amazing the network you create at Lincoln. It’s something I lean on a lot, both with Young Farmers and in my career.

“A lot of the people helping me study this year are old Lincoln mates. Last year, I didn’t really speak to many people that had done well, I think that was probably a mistake.

“I’ve already had a few phone calls with some previous winners, which has helped, probably given me a bit more direction and confidence.”

Lincoln also helped Gareth learn how to study smart, how to think critically and track down the right data. He’s put those skills back into practice, building on last year’s study stack with new flashcards and diving deeper into topics he got away with lightly the first time, like the “fun nitty grittys of farm accounting.”

Of all the event segments, Gareth is most looking forward to the quiz.

“By the time you get to the quiz, the work’s all done and you can take a deep breath, relax, and have a bit of fun.”

Whatever happens on the day, he’s enjoying the ride and we’ll be there cheering him and the other boys along. 

The Grand Final will take place from July 3rd to 5th. You can register for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final livestream here.

Our three Lincoln alumni in the 2025 final