Zanda McDonald Award 2025: New Zealand finalists revealed

The New Zealand finalists for the 2025 Zanda McDonald Awards are Hamish Best, Maegen Blom, and Sarah How.

The three New Zealand finalists for the 2025 Zanda McDonald Award have been revealed.

Now six young rural professionals — three from New Zealand and three from Australia — have been selected as finalists for the award, which recognises future leaders working in agriculture.

The award, now in its 11th year, also offers a prize package, that includes tailored mentoring educational opportunities, and a platform for future growth.

The awards are named after Zanda McDonald, who was prominent in Australian beef and livestock and worked tirelessly to encourage young people to join the industry.

McDonald died in April 2013 at the age of 41, following a tragic accident on his Queensland cattle property.

Organisers said the New Zealand finalists were selected for their leadership, passion, and impactful contributions to the agricultural industry.

Following interviews in Wairarapa on Tuesday, these young professionals join the three Australian finalists announced last week.

Organisers said all the finalists represent the next generation of leaders in the primary sector.

2025 Zanda McDonald Award: New Zealand finalists

Hamish Best

2025 Zanda McDonald Award NZ finalist, Hamish Best.

This 34-year-old sheep and beef farmer is the founder of the red meat brand Conscious Valley, Wellington.

Maegen Blom

2025 Zanda McDonald Award NZ finalist. Maegan Blom. Photo / K. Ingram

Operations manager of family business Mills Bay Mussels, Marlborough, (24).

Sarah How

2025 Zanda McDonald Award NZ finalist, Sarah How. Photo / Lightchasers

Co-founder and general manager of Landify Ltd, South Canterbury, (33).

The three New Zealanders sit alongside Australian finalists, Will Creek (35), general manager - properties livestock for vertically integrated beef and cattle company Stanbroke, Queensland; Jack O’Connor (32), manager of Oxton Park (family cropping, wool and prime lamb farm), based in Harden, Southern NSW; and Felicity Taylor (29), area manager at Rabobank, Moree, Country NSW.

Founder and chairman of the Zanda McDonald Awards Shane McManaway said that, 11 years on, there were now over 50 award alumni.

“It just brings some of the very, very best people in our sector to the top, and the three [New Zealand finalists] are an absolute example of that” he told The Country’s Jamie Mackay.

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McManaway said that award entries were rising too.

“Over Australia and New Zealand, we had something like around-about 70 applicants this year, which just grows and grows.

‘So, to get to...the top three of New Zealand and the three for Australia — you’re a winner before you even get off the start line.”

Wairarapa farmer, Lynley Wyeth was on the judging panel.

She told Mackay the judges had a “real challenge” on their hands every year, trying to pick finalists and winners, and this year was no exception.

“[This is] a very exciting group of young up-and-comers and entrepreneurs in our industry.”

Winners of the Zanda McDonald Award will be announced in March 2025.