June 14, 2026 • 4 mins
In the first of our series profiling the seven FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Finalists, we talk to the hometown favourite representing the host region, Taranaki - Manawatū.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So over the next seven days here on the country,
we are going to be profiling the seven grand finalists
for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year taking place
in Taranaki July second to the fourth. Not long to
go now, and we're going to kick it off with
the home region Taranaki Manua Tu. You'll be a bit
(00:20):
of a fan favorite, David Reesby. David, tell us about
your farming background before we talk about what you've been
doing to try and win this competition. Tell the punters
what you.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Do afternoon, Jamie. Yeah, I'm dairy farming down here in
men Or two, so a couple of hours drive from Taranaki. Yeah,
dairy farming on the family farm, four hundred and twenty
five Friesian care. So.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Yeah, you were a grand finalist in fanng Aray in
twenty twenty two. You finished out of the money and
I was thinking this is last chance saloon for you
because you can only go to a grand final twice.
But apparently that rule has changed.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yes, in the last couple of years have increased it
to three. But I'm hoping I don't have to use it.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Well, I'm hoping you don't too. You're a but actually,
to be honest, I know you and I know young
Tom Sleeve from down in Southland. I know his old
man better. But they're a great farming family from down there.
And you did a big favor to me and a
mate of mine called Greg Mensis at Emerson's and you
will be rewarded, I'm sure for this, David, because we
put out a call to give young Ted Menzies, who's
(01:26):
a second year VET student, a bit of a placement
on a farm closer to Massi University than having to
come all the way back down south. And you're taking
the young bloke on. Yeah, yeah, it.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Would be good to see him just after Grand Final.
He's coming out for a two week replacements so yeah,
I'll teach him as much as I can. And yeah,
he's eager and willing to learn, so that's always great.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
So, as I said a former Grand finalist in twenty
twenty two, it's a huge advantage to go back for
a second dig.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, you sort of learn what you will learn about
the competition as such. You know, it is a huge
varya of array skills needed and you soon sort of
work out in my case what I needed to work on,
and yeah, I've learnt that lesson and hopefully I'm back
with yeah, a better on this time.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
So as a dairy farmer, David Reesby, have you been
on the end of a hand piece? Have you learned
to share a sheep?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yes, yeah, I actually have. Yeah, I'm lucky enough my
fiance Sierrah, she's off she and beef farm. So yeah,
I've had a couple of goes and yeah, it's been
a good learning curve, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
So obviously you're going to be strong in the dairy department.
You're doing your best to strengthen your skills and some
of the other sectors. What do you think is are
your strong points heading into this Grand Final?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Probably the more practical side of things, and maybe the quiz. Yeah,
I really enjoy the quiz. It's good to get up
there and the lights are shining on you and you
can't see the crowd, and yeah, you just got to
answer as many questions as you can. And yeah, what.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
About your weaknesses? What do you think you need to
brush up on.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Probably a fear bit around the financials and yeah, I've
done a bit of work on them and my public speaking,
so I'm hoping that's going to help me out a
fair bit this time.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
A final question for you, David Riesby, representing Taranaki man
or two in the FMG Young Farmer of the Year
Grand Final. I've mentioned Tom Sleeve from Otago South and
have you been eyeing up and I know you will
have been eyeing up the other regional finalists who do
you reckon? Are the big threats?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Ah? They were all there will be a threat. They're
all great guys and they're all you know, willing well
deserving winners if they take it out. Yeah, it's sort
of hard when you don't compete against them to know
what they're what they're like, and what their strengths and
weaknesses are. But yeah, that's sort of out of my
control and I can control what I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
So how many how many other second time offenders are there?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
There's justin ry Rock from Northern who competed last year,
and there's a few that have done quite a few
regional finals which will Yeah, all.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Right, well there we go, David Riesby. We wish you
all the best and over the next six shows we
will be profiling the other six Grand finalists. Thanks for
kicking it off today on the Country thank you Jemi
So over the next seven days here on the country,
we are going to be profiling the seven grand finalists
for the FMG Young Farmer of the Year taking place
in Taranaki July second to the fourth. Not long to
go now, and we're going to kick it off with
the home region Taranaki Manua Tu. You'll be a bit
(00:20):
of a fan favorite, David Reesby. David, tell us about
your farming background before we talk about what you've been
doing to try and win this competition. Tell the punters
what you.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Do afternoon, Jamie. Yeah, I'm dairy farming down here in
men Or two, so a couple of hours drive from Taranaki. Yeah,
dairy farming on the family farm, four hundred and twenty
five Friesian care. So.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Yeah, you were a grand finalist in fanng Aray in
twenty twenty two. You finished out of the money and
I was thinking this is last chance saloon for you
because you can only go to a grand final twice.
But apparently that rule has changed.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Yes, in the last couple of years have increased it
to three. But I'm hoping I don't have to use it.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Well, I'm hoping you don't too. You're a but actually,
to be honest, I know you and I know young
Tom Sleeve from down in Southland. I know his old
man better. But they're a great farming family from down there.
And you did a big favor to me and a
mate of mine called Greg Mensis at Emerson's and you
will be rewarded, I'm sure for this, David, because we
put out a call to give young Ted Menzies, who's
(01:26):
a second year VET student, a bit of a placement
on a farm closer to Massi University than having to
come all the way back down south. And you're taking
the young bloke on. Yeah, yeah, it.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Would be good to see him just after Grand Final.
He's coming out for a two week replacements so yeah,
I'll teach him as much as I can. And yeah,
he's eager and willing to learn, so that's always great.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
So, as I said a former Grand finalist in twenty
twenty two, it's a huge advantage to go back for
a second dig.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, you sort of learn what you will learn about
the competition as such. You know, it is a huge
varya of array skills needed and you soon sort of
work out in my case what I needed to work on,
and yeah, I've learnt that lesson and hopefully I'm back
with yeah, a better on this time.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
So as a dairy farmer, David Reesby, have you been
on the end of a hand piece? Have you learned
to share a sheep?
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Yes, yeah, I actually have. Yeah, I'm lucky enough my
fiance Sierrah, she's off she and beef farm. So yeah,
I've had a couple of goes and yeah, it's been
a good learning curve, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
So obviously you're going to be strong in the dairy department.
You're doing your best to strengthen your skills and some
of the other sectors. What do you think is are
your strong points heading into this Grand Final?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Probably the more practical side of things, and maybe the quiz. Yeah,
I really enjoy the quiz. It's good to get up
there and the lights are shining on you and you
can't see the crowd, and yeah, you just got to
answer as many questions as you can. And yeah, what.
Speaker 1 (03:03):
About your weaknesses? What do you think you need to
brush up on.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
Probably a fear bit around the financials and yeah, I've
done a bit of work on them and my public speaking,
so I'm hoping that's going to help me out a
fair bit this time.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
A final question for you, David Riesby, representing Taranaki man
or two in the FMG Young Farmer of the Year
Grand Final. I've mentioned Tom Sleeve from Otago South and
have you been eyeing up and I know you will
have been eyeing up the other regional finalists who do
you reckon? Are the big threats?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Ah? They were all there will be a threat. They're
all great guys and they're all you know, willing well
deserving winners if they take it out. Yeah, it's sort
of hard when you don't compete against them to know
what they're what they're like, and what their strengths and
weaknesses are. But yeah, that's sort of out of my
control and I can control what I'm doing.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
So how many how many other second time offenders are there?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
There's justin ry Rock from Northern who competed last year,
and there's a few that have done quite a few
regional finals which will Yeah, all.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Right, well there we go, David Riesby. We wish you
all the best and over the next six shows we
will be profiling the other six Grand finalists. Thanks for
kicking it off today on the Country thank you Jemi
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