June 15, 2026 • 4 mins
We continue our series profiling the seven FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand finalists, and today we yarn to East Coast region winner, a young man who's no stranger to big competitions, having competed in the Coast to Coast and Godzone.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
FMG Young Farmer of the Year twenty twenty six FMG
proud principal sponsor since twenty fifteen. Well, yesterday on the
country we started profiling the seven grand finalists for the
FMG Young Farmer of the Year title. It was David
Reesby for Taranaki manua Iu. Today we're heading to the
other side of the island. The East Coast finalist or
(00:22):
representative is ed Lavor deer, sheep and beef farmer at
a place called Webber which is sort of east of
danny Verk Southern Hawks Bay. There ed great to have
you on the country. You're no stranger to big competition.
You've been in the high performance rowing scene, You've taken
part in the Coast to Coast Longest Day and God's Own.
(00:45):
How do you find time to go farming with all
that in your diary?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, it's a pretty busy, pretty busy schedule, but yeah,
the farming comes first and and a lot of time for
the training happens with the headlight on sort of before
and after work.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
So what is your family background? Are you on a
family farm at the moment?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yep, So me and my partner have been back on
a family farm for two years now grew up. It
was all their farm, and then since then there's sort
of acquired more land and divestied into sheep and beef
as well.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
You went to Smedley Station and then you went on
to Lincoln University. That's, if you don't mind me saying
so a slightly unusual career path. A lot of young
guys and girls might go to Smedley and then go
mustering and straight to the coal face. Why did you
go to Lincoln after that?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yeah? I suppose I left school wanting to go farming
and Smedley was the best option there. So that was
pretty cool man to get through through Smedley and then
was lucky enough to get a sports scholarship to go
to Lincoln. So yeah, check the three year degree onto
the end of my education.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
What was your sports scholarship on Lincoln and rowing?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
You're still on the rowing No, No, So it's pretty
hard to row.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
In the middle of nowhere. Yeah, fair enough, I get that,
But are you still competing competitively like in Coast to
Coast god Zone And.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yes, I did Coast to Coast in theory this year,
longest day I've done a couple of god zones in
the last couple of years and yeah done three coast
to coast.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Now I ran into Richie at the airport and at
the big debate at field Days. He looks as fit
as a fiddle. Have you run Have you come across
some in your guard zones Richie McCaul we're talking about
of course.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, yeah, no. When you turn those kind of circles,
you sort of bump heads for those guys. And a
few occasions we've been in the middle of the night
trudging up a river together and having a cookyarn. So
now it's pretty cool to bump shoulders and talk with
those high profile athletes.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Ed labor with us. He is the East Coast regional
finalists for the Young Farmer Grand Final coming up in
New Plymouth July, second to fourth. Ed, you're a first
time finalist at twenty nine. Have you left your run
too late?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
I will have to find out, Jamie. You could say
I've had more years to get some experience under my bolt.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Well, the irony is I think you still even if
you were to miss out this year, Ed, and I'm
not suggesting your will. You're obviously a pretty determined into
character and a very competitive man. But you can get
another shot next year if you want.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, I just learned that recently. Actually, I thought this
was my last run, my last crack, and part of
the reason was for signing up was there. I thought,
if I'm going to do it, I've only got one chance,
so I better get onto it. But yeah, as I've went,
I think I have another creek next year.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Well, well good on you, hey, Just to finish on
I asked David Riesby this question, so it's only fair
that I ask you of that strengths and weaknesses. You're
obviously strong on the pastoral side of things, sheep, beef
and deer. Do you know how to milk a cow?
Can you pick a kiwi fruit?
Speaker 2 (03:56):
The milking of a cow? Though we did a little
bit when I was at Smedley, but that's about as
far as my cow knowledge extends. Yeah, practically, pretty good
with my hands building stuff. When it comes to my
knowledge and the egri quiz, that's probably going to be
my downfall. But spending a bit of time hitting the
books in that sense.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Well edl over, I know you're a very busy man.
Knowing you, you're probably heading off to share some sheep
or go on a training run. Hey, good luck. You're
the Grand finalist number two that we're profiling over the
next week here on the Country.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Good Luck you. Thanks Jammy
FMG Young Farmer of the Year twenty twenty six FMG
proud principal sponsor since twenty fifteen. Well, yesterday on the
country we started profiling the seven grand finalists for the
FMG Young Farmer of the Year title. It was David
Reesby for Taranaki manua Iu. Today we're heading to the
other side of the island. The East Coast finalist or
(00:22):
representative is ed Lavor deer, sheep and beef farmer at
a place called Webber which is sort of east of
danny Verk Southern Hawks Bay. There ed great to have
you on the country. You're no stranger to big competition.
You've been in the high performance rowing scene, You've taken
part in the Coast to Coast Longest Day and God's Own.
(00:45):
How do you find time to go farming with all
that in your diary?
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, it's a pretty busy, pretty busy schedule, but yeah,
the farming comes first and and a lot of time for
the training happens with the headlight on sort of before
and after work.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
So what is your family background? Are you on a
family farm at the moment?
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yep, So me and my partner have been back on
a family farm for two years now grew up. It
was all their farm, and then since then there's sort
of acquired more land and divestied into sheep and beef
as well.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
You went to Smedley Station and then you went on
to Lincoln University. That's, if you don't mind me saying
so a slightly unusual career path. A lot of young
guys and girls might go to Smedley and then go
mustering and straight to the coal face. Why did you
go to Lincoln after that?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yeah? I suppose I left school wanting to go farming
and Smedley was the best option there. So that was
pretty cool man to get through through Smedley and then
was lucky enough to get a sports scholarship to go
to Lincoln. So yeah, check the three year degree onto
the end of my education.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
What was your sports scholarship on Lincoln and rowing?
Speaker 2 (01:57):
You're still on the rowing No, No, So it's pretty
hard to row.
Speaker 1 (02:03):
In the middle of nowhere. Yeah, fair enough, I get that,
But are you still competing competitively like in Coast to
Coast god Zone And.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yes, I did Coast to Coast in theory this year,
longest day I've done a couple of god zones in
the last couple of years and yeah done three coast
to coast.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Now I ran into Richie at the airport and at
the big debate at field Days. He looks as fit
as a fiddle. Have you run Have you come across
some in your guard zones Richie McCaul we're talking about
of course.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, yeah, no. When you turn those kind of circles,
you sort of bump heads for those guys. And a
few occasions we've been in the middle of the night
trudging up a river together and having a cookyarn. So
now it's pretty cool to bump shoulders and talk with
those high profile athletes.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Ed labor with us. He is the East Coast regional
finalists for the Young Farmer Grand Final coming up in
New Plymouth July, second to fourth. Ed, you're a first
time finalist at twenty nine. Have you left your run
too late?
Speaker 2 (03:05):
I will have to find out, Jamie. You could say
I've had more years to get some experience under my bolt.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Well, the irony is I think you still even if
you were to miss out this year, Ed, and I'm
not suggesting your will. You're obviously a pretty determined into
character and a very competitive man. But you can get
another shot next year if you want.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Yeah, I just learned that recently. Actually, I thought this
was my last run, my last crack, and part of
the reason was for signing up was there. I thought,
if I'm going to do it, I've only got one chance,
so I better get onto it. But yeah, as I've went,
I think I have another creek next year.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Well, well good on you, hey, Just to finish on
I asked David Riesby this question, so it's only fair
that I ask you of that strengths and weaknesses. You're
obviously strong on the pastoral side of things, sheep, beef
and deer. Do you know how to milk a cow?
Can you pick a kiwi fruit?
Speaker 2 (03:56):
The milking of a cow? Though we did a little
bit when I was at Smedley, but that's about as
far as my cow knowledge extends. Yeah, practically, pretty good
with my hands building stuff. When it comes to my
knowledge and the egri quiz, that's probably going to be
my downfall. But spending a bit of time hitting the
books in that sense.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Well edl over, I know you're a very busy man.
Knowing you, you're probably heading off to share some sheep
or go on a training run. Hey, good luck. You're
the Grand finalist number two that we're profiling over the
next week here on the Country.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Good Luck you. Thanks Jammy
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