"I like to challenge myself, so I entered again," she said.
"The awards process has made me assess my strengths and weaknesses and feedback from the judges has been honest and constructive.
"It makes you focus on your goals and future and so I've had to make myself a plan."
However, despite her dairy farming life, Grace still wants to be a "girlie girl".
"I still get my nails done and I like to go shopping and I don't want it to be obvious I'm a dairy farmer," she said.
But farming does put limitations on her social life.
"Because we only milk 200 cows we don't start until 5.30am, but I've had to cut back on my social life a bit," she said.
"It's hard when friends live in town and Friday night rolls around and they want me to go out but I've still got to get up and milk the cows in the morning."
Dairy farming offers plenty of opportunities and Grace believes there are wonderful chances to progress through the industry quickly.
"People within this industry are so encouraging and helpful and the opportunities are amazing," she said.
"So long as you are passionate, give dairying a go."
But like so many family farming partnerships, there are challenges working so closely with her father.
"It's hard to get Dad to listen to me, his youngest daughter," she said.
But Jeff sees things somewhat differently.
"I've been there, done that and know what works and what doesn't," he told the Dannevirke News.
With the national dairy awards coming up, Grace said she would be "studying her heart out" in preparation.
"It'll be quite intense, with a video presentation, practical judging and another interview to face during a week in Rotorua and Auckland," she said.
"It's a big deal, but the experience will be great for networking.
"My ultimate goal is to own my own farm and make my own way in the dairy industry and not through my family."
And looking to the future, in the next couple of days Grace has two interviews for a new job for next season; her exposure through the dairy industry awards likely to open even more doors (or gates) in the future.
And there is life away from the cowshed.
Grace was instrumental in starting the Dannevirke Young Farmers Club 18 months ago and is the club's secretary and she's inherited her parents love of the outdoors and is keen on cycling and kayaking.