Thomas Slee, 28, venceu a final do 2026 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Otago Southland, avançando para a final nacional. Thomas Slee, 28, won the 2026 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Otago Southland final, advancing to the national final.

Thomas Slee, um produtor de leite de 28 anos da Nightcaps, venceu a final regional de Otago Southland, marcando 271 pontos em cinco desafios. Thomas Slee, a 28-year-old dairy farmer from Nightcaps, has won the 2026 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Otago Southland regional final, scoring 271 points across five challenges. Ele superou os finalistas Henry Smith e Harry McCallum e avançará para a final nacional em julho. He outpaced finalists Henry Smith and Harry McCallum and will advance to the national grand final in July. A competição, realizada no Gore A & P Showgrounds, incluiu categorias de idade para estudantes do ensino primário e médio, com equipes do Northern Southland College e Blue Mountain College ganhando seus respectivos títulos. The competition, held at the Gore A&P Showgrounds, included age categories for primary and high school students, with teams from Northern Southland College and Blue Mountain College winning their respective titles. O evento atraiu forte apoio da comunidade e marcou um ano recorde para a participação na 58a temporada do programa Jovens Agricultores. The event drew strong community support and marked a record year for participation in the 58th season of the Young Farmers program.