Beef farmer Dangen, 30, also claimed the FMG People's Choice Award and three out of five of the challenges - Agri-Business, Agri-Sports and Agri-Knowledge.
He said he was overcome with emotion, exhausted, excited and relieved to have taken out the title.
"The competition within the Northern Region over the last five years has been so strong, so I just want to represent all those people well, keep the work up going forward and encourage young people to get amongst it," he said.
It was Dangen's first Grand Final after competing in four Regional Finals.
"I've met a bunch of good people, learnt a whole lot, got a lot of growth out of it. It's just such a good advocacy for the industry, I love this competition to bits," he said.
Competing against his brother-in-law, Poole, he said pushed him to keep going.
Te Kawa West Young Farmer, Poole, a dairy farmer, also took home the award for the Agri-Skills challenge.
"It's obviously not the result I came here for but I'm really stoked. I've said right from the start if me or Tim could do it, I'd be wrapped, so I'm really pumped that Tim won and I'm stoked to get second," said Poole.
"It's really cool for our families who have spent so much time at Regional Finals over the years, it's really exciting for everyone involved."
Poole said his favourite parts of the contest were the agri-sports and farmlet, while he found the exam challenging.
He reckoned he would have a rest for a few years, before giving Grand Final another crack.
A dairy farm manager for Dairy Holdings Limited, Brown was a seasoned competitor giving it his last shot before aging out of the organisation.
"The lead up has been a bit of a struggle and I salvaged a good result off some not ideal preparation so I'm very, very content," he said.
"Now I just want to make sure we all get behind our winner and help achieve his goal of 'bringing sexy back to farming'," he laughed.
The contest started on Thursday with technical day before heading into the biggest day - practical day - on Friday where they battled through the pouring rain for eight hours completing a series of modules and time and points races.
The same night, the seven Grand Finalists presented their speeches to a crowd of 350 at the FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year and AgriKidsNZ Awards Ceremony.
Saturday morning saw some down time with their families for a volunteer morning, planting trees at Barge Showgrounds to leave their legacy in Whangārei before the big finale.
The nerves kicked in that night at the Evening Show, as they went head-to-head in a buzzer quiz in front of a crowd of 650, racking up last-minute points before the winner was announced.
It was the first Grand Final in several years that all seven grand finalists have been sheep, beef or dairy farmers.
Alex Field from Otago Southland, Tom Adkins from Aorangi and Mark Wallace from East Coast were all sheep and beef farmers.
David Reesby from Taranaki Manawatu, was also a dairy farmer.
Each contestant was named their region's FMG Young Farmer of the Year near the start of the year after taking out their regional final. They qualified for the regional final by making the top eight competitors from a series of district contests held near the end of last year.
New Zealand Young Farmers Chief Executive Lynda Coppersmith said Dangen was a well-deserving winner.
"Tim Dangen is a fantastic ambassador for contest and the food and fibre sector and now we are thrilled to be able to call him the FMG Young Farmer of the Year for season 54.
"He has proved over the last three days just how deserving he is of the title with innovative thinking, a passion for sustainability, a wide breadth of knowledge and the ability to think on his feet."
Coppersmith said the contestants demonstrated positivity, endurance, good humour and humility over the last three days "and are an inspiration to us all, young and old".
She said the contest also highlights just how lucky the industry as a whole is.
"To have people like this leading the future of the food and fibre sector, we truly are in good hands."
Commersmith highlighted the ability of hosting the Grand Final event amidst another challenging year with covid and restrictions and outbreaks, as being vital for connection.
"It is so important for our Young Farmers community to be able to come together every year, get off the farm, catch up with friends and have fun.
"Once again, we're able to celebrate the food and fibre sector through the achievements of the best Young Farmers in the country.
"Their innovation, resilience and passion has have been on full display yet again and just reflects the heart of the industry and its future," she said.
Coppersmith also paid tribute to the multitude of volunteers who ensured the contest was a success, from district contests, to regional finals and of course grand final.
"I often say that to just say thank you is never enough thanks to give to our volunteers who have pulled off another successful season together in the face of challenges, including regional finals being held through the red traffic light restrictions.
"But alas, thank you to our volunteers, and our sponsor family who make this all happen, every year, year after year," she said.
"I also want to extend my gratitude to the family and friends of all our competitors from AgriKidsNZ through to FMG Young Farmer of the Year. Without all your support, it wouldn't be the contest and Grand Final it has been."
The FMG Young Farmer of the Year Contest Series is supported by FMG, Ravensdown, Worksafe, Ministry for Primary Industries, Environmental Protection Authority, Honda, STIHL, Lincoln University, Massey University, New Holland Agriculture and PTS Logistics.
FULL RESULTS & PRIZES
1st - Tim Dangen
15,000 cash reward from FMG, a place on Kellogg Rural Leadership or Value Chain Innovation Programme, $5,500 Ravensdown tailored professional development package, New Holland Boomer 25 Tractor and Loader Package, on-farm consultation, personal locator beacon and MPI prize pack, Honda TRX520FA6 Quad bike, $1,500 STIHL voucher, $1,000 Bushbuck voucher and $1,500 Red Balloon voucher.
2nd - Chris Poole
$7,500 cash reward from FMG, $2,000 New Holland Voucher, PLB, boot dryer and MPI prize pack
3rd - Johnny Brown
$5,000 cash from FMG, $1,000 New Holland voucher
FMG People's Choice – Tim Dangen, Northern.
Prize $1,500 cash + $1,000 cash to their NZYF Club.
Community footprint winner - Alex Field, Otago Southland
Sponsored by Ravensdown, $1,500 House of Travel Voucher, $1,000 to Contestant's region
Agri-Business winner - Tim Dangen, Northern
Sponsored by EPA - $1,000 cash reward
Agri-Skills winner - Chris Poole
Sponsored by Worksafe, $2,500 NZ Safety Blackwoods voucher
Agri-Sports winner - Tim Dangen, Northern
Sponsored by STIHL, $1,500 STIHL voucher
Agri-Knowledge winner - Tim Dangen
Sponsored by MPI, Personal development course and personal locator beacon
