Reesby, a Marton Young Farmers Club member, won the Taranaki Manawatū young-farmer-of-the-year title at Feilding High School’s dairy farm on Saturday.
The 21-year-old is second in charge on his family’s dairy farm.
It was a clean sweep for Marton club as the runner-up and third-place winners were also members.
Land management advisor Brad Beatson, 30, was runner-up and veterinarian Georgina Campbell, 31, came third.
“I didn’t expect to be that high up the list, I was pretty stoked and pretty proud to be up there, I knew I had to go well in the quiz to keep ahead of Brad and Georgina.”
In the lead-up to the grand final, Reesby will be putting in the hard yards.
”You don’t know what to expect in the grand final, so will be giving it my all and will be trying to study hard.”
The contest is based on four areas: agri-skills, agri-business, agri-sports, and agri-knowledge.
Reesby will battle it for the national title at the grand final in Whangarei in July against six other regional final winners.
New Zealand Young Farmers chief executive Lynda Coppersmith said the stakes were incredibly high, being the third contest season impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Entries were up 30 per cent despite Covid-19 uncertainty.
“The calibre of competitors at each regional final is the highest I have seen it and is an extraordinary showcase of the skills and knowledge needed to be involved in the primary industries in this day and age.
“Our competitors represent the full diversity of the primary industries and the array of opportunities available and goes to show that New Zealand Young Farmers’ members really are the best and brightest.”
