The Massey University Alumni has a Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Agriculture, Rural Valuation and Management.
This will be his second Grand Final, after competing in 2017 where he came fifth place, just behind Lisa Kendall - who has also been named as a 2020 Grand Finalist for the Northern Region.
"I understand the process and the time and constraints that it's going to put on life. There's always going to be a challenge with every Grand Final, not knowing what the organising committee is going to throw you, but I'm lucky enough to be a previous Grand Finalist and I'm going to try to lean on that experience as much as possible and hopefully bring back the trophy for Taranaki Manawatu," he said.
Runner-up Hugh Jackson (left), winner James Lawn and Graham Johnson (third). Photo / Supplied
The eight regional finalists competed in eight modules and battled it out in two time and points races – head to heads - at The TSB Hub in Hawera on Saturday.
The two head to heads tested their chainsaw skills by carving Mount Taranaki and a wave out of a log, fishing "fish" out of the "pond" with unseen hazards and quotas, making videos about what environmental sustainability means to them, rigging up a gate, assessing fake farm accidents involving "real life patients" (contestants pulled in from the FMG JR Young Farmer of the Year contest to act) and testing cheeses.
A written exam, as well as the famous FMG Young Farmer of the Year buzzer quiz also tested the regional finalist's knowledge.
James Lawn in action at the practical day. Photo / Supplied
For runner-up, Jackson, it was his first time competing in the contest.
"I'm ecstatic, I'm very stoked, it couldn't have gone much better tonight and today, it was really good fun and I'm over the moon," he said.
Taking out the strainer for people, he said the WorkSafe module helped him out, but he surprised himself with his own health and safety knowledge.
He found the head to heads the most challenging part.
"I didn't quite get to finish the second to head to head, and I finished last in the first head to head but thankfully it wasn't about placing but just trying to complete it within the time."
An advantage he thought, was being a recent 2019 Massey University Bachelor of AgriCommerce graduate, now in a Graduate Programme with DairyNZ.
"I really surprised myself at the quiz and being on the DairyNZ Graduate programme now helped a huge amount with heaps of information going in, so I'm really grateful for that."
He's adamant he will compete again.
In third place, Johnson, an AgriHQ Marketing Analyst was also a 2019 Massey University graduate, with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science.
The 22-year-old came runner-up at last year's Taranaki Manawatu Regional Final and was also runner-up FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year while in high school.
For James Lawn, the road to Grand Final starts now.
He spent three years as a consultancy officer for DairyNZ and has also travelled the world farming.
He came back to his family dairy farm but was forced to give up farming in 2019 after a serious accident.
"You've just got to roll with whatever life throws at you and be prepared in whatever way you can handle, with the things that you've got placed in front of you, so this is just another challenge for me and it's an exciting one," he said.
Having competed against Lisa Kendall before in the 2017 Grand Final, he said he's excited to go through the same process with a good friend, but there will be some fierce competition.
"It's certainly going to be hopefully a tight knight group again of competitors when we're competing but friends when we're finished," he said.
The FMG YFOTY event is sponsored by FMG, Ravensdown, Honda, WorkSafe, PTS, STIHL, Lincoln University, Massey University, Southfuels/Northfuels, Betacraft and New Holland.
