July 13, 2026 • 8 mins
Reigning FMG Young Farmer Of The Year Tom Slee reflects on his success ten days on, and has it actually sunk in yet?!
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Speaker 1 (00:12):
This is the muster. Well, it's fair to say Tom
Sleeves had a pretty wicked fortnight, if not longer as well.
He is the reigning FMG Young Farmer of the Year winner.
He got the chocolates. So just on ten days ago
now and New Plymouth and he's back to reality. He's
become somewhat seavy around the media given the accolades have
(00:34):
come at the top of ward. Tom good afternoon, thanks
for joining us on the muster. Congratulations as well. Well
week on, how does it feel?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Oh, cheers for that. No, it's been a busy couple
of weeks now, so yeah, just back to reality on
the farm. Weat and cold down here.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Yeah, help you hell's ground conditions down there, I suppose
straight off the bat, are you guys looking all right?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, we know we were pretty but it shouldn't probably
be complaining compared to the rest of the country. But yeah,
some people have been doing it pretty tough in there.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Absolutely, But from your perspective, mate, back into reality straight away.
You got back like the Sunday after the event. You
had a few phone calls Monday last week and I
suppose you were just hanging out to get back to
the paddock and away from from all the glits almost
to an agree, because there was a fair bit of it.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, oh that's been nice kitching up with everyone and
everyone's been pretty good to deal with. But yeah, definitely
hanging out to get back out and arm and see
how the bloy has been getting on. Done a pretty
good job while I've been away. Probably should go away
more often, I know.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Oh, well, you've had worse weeks away, let's be honest.
So when you look back at the whole event and
where you've ended up, do you just pinch yourself when
you think about it.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah, it's probably still pretty surreal to be fear. Yeah,
so good to get it all, get it all done.
Really pretty pretty heavy with the result.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
So what was the highlight for you when you look
back at the event?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Tom Oh, everything was. The whole event was really well
run by the organizers, and yes, the hats off to
them and all the sponsors that were helping out side
of things. Yeah, it's been been pretty cool. The practical
practical day was definitely a big challenge, and then the
(02:21):
technical day sort of touching on the exam and doing
the we sort of had to do it. Innovation presentation
and all that was interesting studying for and you're getting
back into the books, which I think that unusual. I
haven't haven't studied for anything for a couple of years.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Yeah, So how much study went into the event?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Oh lots, Yeah, yeah, No, it's definitely had to head
down for a good month there. The boys will definitely
I advocame for that. I wasn't out on the farm
too much in that month leading up, but yeah, sort of.
That was probably the biggest challenges, trying to make a
bit of time to sort of lock yourself away and
(03:06):
get through that. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Now I mentioned this Nagel Wade had a couple of
previous winners about just overstudy and trying to find that
balance between doing the box and getting out in the
battle on the farm. Did you have any issues there?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
No, it's been pretty good. But yeah, you'll know what
it's light like. She's pretty busy here on the dairy
farm and trying to get everyone gone in the right direction.
So yeah, that was a bit of a I'm probably
used to being on the farm most days, so having
a bit of a review of the systems and drafting
that everyone does the job right rather than having to
(03:41):
be out there keeping an eye on everything. Yeah, so
that was probably one of the bigger learnings I probably
took away from the whole last couple of months.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Now, the quiz is when you really hit your straps
and you know, well, it's a technic you took in
Winton last year, and it sounds that you did the
same thing, but this I'm very much worked in your favor.
I suppose that would have been premeditated.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Well, yeah, it was good tomorrow that it had kind
of worked in Winton, and I was surprised to see
that they had the same structure to the quiz this
year in the Grand Final. I thought that after Winton
they would have changed it a weabit. But yeah, no,
it was definitely worked in my favor. And there's something
(04:25):
we sort of talked about during the afternoon before the
quiz that we probably should just go out there and
have a go. So. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So when you say the structure to the quiz as side,
is that giving you the chance to buzz it on
a question? Oh?
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I was more that rivalry round. There was one round
on the quiz where you're allowed to buzz into someone
else's question and if they get it wrong then you
get to have a go at answering it. But if
you buzz, you can buzz pretty much as soon as
the question starts without even having listening to it, and
then you get the whole you get the them to
(05:00):
their whole question, and then if they get it wrong
and that sort of cancels out one of your answers,
you're thinking of as well.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
See I think of next year young farmers in the competition,
there'll be the time sleeve actor might come into the equation,
so they might just.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Get rid of that round. They might do something different.
But yeah, it was, it was. Yeah, it was good fun.
And if you are buzzing those questions when you don't
know the question, you've got to be reasonably confident you
can get more than half them right.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
So yeah, we spoke with your dad Richard on the
show last week and Simon the week before as he
just arrived at New Plymouth. Not too bad having those
those couple of blokes as your mentors.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yeah, no, they're definitely good people to have a standing
boards yet. And yeah, even through the the sort of
month leading up, they had some good tips and tricks
and sat down and went through everything with them quite
a few times, so yeah, pretty lucky to have the
two of them there and every one house it was involved,
So yeah, lots of family and friends and neighbors and
(06:03):
you run helping out with that study side of things.
So good. Good to let it pay off.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
And you had an extensive support network cup there as well.
That must have given you a bit of a buzz.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah, I sort of put pressure on. I had to
had formed with all that many people out there, so
that was nice to have. Yeah, real real close close
friends and family and everyone up there. I think we
had the people there, someone said, So yeah, there was
a bus that went out for the practical day with
all of misive waters on it, which was pretty pretty.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Cool and just for the Tago South and the Tigo
South and region in general, picking up quite a few accolades.
And you know this as much as any one time
that the district is in very very good heart.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, no, it's good to see you Tigo South and
getting a little bit of recognition out there. And yeah,
pretty been a pretty good year I suppose for the region.
So yeah, hopefully that pay it and we can have
another good year this year.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Yeah. Bit of a correction this this week with on terra,
but nonetheless still a lot of positives in the rural sector.
So when do all your prizes start arriving? What happens there?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah quite good to have quite good day of an
extra four wheel of scarving, and yeah maybe a tractor
as well. So ye need to start following up on
a bit of this this week.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
So you're putting the word out there you want to
get some prises before carving.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Yeah, I think we get a four wheeler anyway in
a week in a week.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Track, Well, hell good.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
I was on the phone to the new hole and
guy this morning and yeah, I think we're going to
come out for a catch up next week.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
So no, that's awesome. Hey Tom, We'll let you carry
on once again if I'm g Young Farmer of the Year,
Thomas Lee, carry on the tradition of the South really
performing above the await. Thanks to your time and the muster, mate,
and yeah, I always got to catch our young farmer
some really good stuff going.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Thanks for your time, Jeers Matt, thank you.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Laugh out loud with ag proud because life on the
land can be a laughing matter.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Brought to us by sheer Well Data Working to.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Help the livestock farmer. A man and his wife were
giving each other the silent treatment, but the next week
the man realized he needed to wake up early courtesy
of his wife for a five am flight. Not wanting
to be the first break of the silence, he finally
wrote him a piece of paper, please wake me up
at five am. The next morning. The mad boy cup I,
only to discover it was night in his mister's flight. Furious,
(08:34):
he was about to scream at his wife, and he
noticed a bit of paper by the bed that said
it's five am. Wake up. Dialogue is the key, right,
We'll leave it there. My name's Andy Muer. The Muster,
of course, is brought to you by Petersenelix. A podcast
is up shortly thanks to iHeartRadio. Joyed the afternoon See
tomorrow
This is the muster. Well, it's fair to say Tom
Sleeves had a pretty wicked fortnight, if not longer as well.
He is the reigning FMG Young Farmer of the Year winner.
He got the chocolates. So just on ten days ago
now and New Plymouth and he's back to reality. He's
become somewhat seavy around the media given the accolades have
(00:34):
come at the top of ward. Tom good afternoon, thanks
for joining us on the muster. Congratulations as well. Well
week on, how does it feel?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Oh, cheers for that. No, it's been a busy couple
of weeks now, so yeah, just back to reality on
the farm. Weat and cold down here.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Yeah, help you hell's ground conditions down there, I suppose
straight off the bat, are you guys looking all right?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, we know we were pretty but it shouldn't probably
be complaining compared to the rest of the country. But yeah,
some people have been doing it pretty tough in there.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Absolutely, But from your perspective, mate, back into reality straight away.
You got back like the Sunday after the event. You
had a few phone calls Monday last week and I
suppose you were just hanging out to get back to
the paddock and away from from all the glits almost
to an agree, because there was a fair bit of it.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
Yeah, oh that's been nice kitching up with everyone and
everyone's been pretty good to deal with. But yeah, definitely
hanging out to get back out and arm and see
how the bloy has been getting on. Done a pretty
good job while I've been away. Probably should go away
more often, I know.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Oh, well, you've had worse weeks away, let's be honest.
So when you look back at the whole event and
where you've ended up, do you just pinch yourself when
you think about it.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah, it's probably still pretty surreal to be fear. Yeah,
so good to get it all, get it all done.
Really pretty pretty heavy with the result.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
So what was the highlight for you when you look
back at the event?
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Tom Oh, everything was. The whole event was really well
run by the organizers, and yes, the hats off to
them and all the sponsors that were helping out side
of things. Yeah, it's been been pretty cool. The practical
practical day was definitely a big challenge, and then the
(02:21):
technical day sort of touching on the exam and doing
the we sort of had to do it. Innovation presentation
and all that was interesting studying for and you're getting
back into the books, which I think that unusual. I
haven't haven't studied for anything for a couple of years.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Yeah, So how much study went into the event?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Oh lots, Yeah, yeah, No, it's definitely had to head
down for a good month there. The boys will definitely
I advocame for that. I wasn't out on the farm
too much in that month leading up, but yeah, sort of.
That was probably the biggest challenges, trying to make a
bit of time to sort of lock yourself away and
(03:06):
get through that. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Now I mentioned this Nagel Wade had a couple of
previous winners about just overstudy and trying to find that
balance between doing the box and getting out in the
battle on the farm. Did you have any issues there?
Speaker 2 (03:19):
No, it's been pretty good. But yeah, you'll know what
it's light like. She's pretty busy here on the dairy
farm and trying to get everyone gone in the right direction.
So yeah, that was a bit of a I'm probably
used to being on the farm most days, so having
a bit of a review of the systems and drafting
that everyone does the job right rather than having to
(03:41):
be out there keeping an eye on everything. Yeah, so
that was probably one of the bigger learnings I probably
took away from the whole last couple of months.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Now, the quiz is when you really hit your straps
and you know, well, it's a technic you took in
Winton last year, and it sounds that you did the
same thing, but this I'm very much worked in your favor.
I suppose that would have been premeditated.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Well, yeah, it was good tomorrow that it had kind
of worked in Winton, and I was surprised to see
that they had the same structure to the quiz this
year in the Grand Final. I thought that after Winton
they would have changed it a weabit. But yeah, no,
it was definitely worked in my favor. And there's something
(04:25):
we sort of talked about during the afternoon before the
quiz that we probably should just go out there and
have a go. So. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
So when you say the structure to the quiz as side,
is that giving you the chance to buzz it on
a question? Oh?
Speaker 2 (04:40):
I was more that rivalry round. There was one round
on the quiz where you're allowed to buzz into someone
else's question and if they get it wrong then you
get to have a go at answering it. But if
you buzz, you can buzz pretty much as soon as
the question starts without even having listening to it, and
then you get the whole you get the them to
(05:00):
their whole question, and then if they get it wrong
and that sort of cancels out one of your answers,
you're thinking of as well.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
See I think of next year young farmers in the competition,
there'll be the time sleeve actor might come into the equation,
so they might just.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Get rid of that round. They might do something different.
But yeah, it was, it was. Yeah, it was good fun.
And if you are buzzing those questions when you don't
know the question, you've got to be reasonably confident you
can get more than half them right.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
So yeah, we spoke with your dad Richard on the
show last week and Simon the week before as he
just arrived at New Plymouth. Not too bad having those
those couple of blokes as your mentors.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yeah, no, they're definitely good people to have a standing
boards yet. And yeah, even through the the sort of
month leading up, they had some good tips and tricks
and sat down and went through everything with them quite
a few times, so yeah, pretty lucky to have the
two of them there and every one house it was involved,
So yeah, lots of family and friends and neighbors and
(06:03):
you run helping out with that study side of things.
So good. Good to let it pay off.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
And you had an extensive support network cup there as well.
That must have given you a bit of a buzz.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
Yeah, I sort of put pressure on. I had to
had formed with all that many people out there, so
that was nice to have. Yeah, real real close close
friends and family and everyone up there. I think we
had the people there, someone said, So yeah, there was
a bus that went out for the practical day with
all of misive waters on it, which was pretty pretty.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Cool and just for the Tago South and the Tigo
South and region in general, picking up quite a few accolades.
And you know this as much as any one time
that the district is in very very good heart.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, no, it's good to see you Tigo South and
getting a little bit of recognition out there. And yeah,
pretty been a pretty good year I suppose for the region.
So yeah, hopefully that pay it and we can have
another good year this year.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Yeah. Bit of a correction this this week with on terra,
but nonetheless still a lot of positives in the rural sector.
So when do all your prizes start arriving? What happens there?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah quite good to have quite good day of an
extra four wheel of scarving, and yeah maybe a tractor
as well. So ye need to start following up on
a bit of this this week.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
So you're putting the word out there you want to
get some prises before carving.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
Yeah, I think we get a four wheeler anyway in
a week in a week.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Track, Well, hell good.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
I was on the phone to the new hole and
guy this morning and yeah, I think we're going to
come out for a catch up next week.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
So no, that's awesome. Hey Tom, We'll let you carry
on once again if I'm g Young Farmer of the Year,
Thomas Lee, carry on the tradition of the South really
performing above the await. Thanks to your time and the muster, mate,
and yeah, I always got to catch our young farmer
some really good stuff going.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Thanks for your time, Jeers Matt, thank you.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Laugh out loud with ag proud because life on the
land can be a laughing matter.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Brought to us by sheer Well Data Working to.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Help the livestock farmer. A man and his wife were
giving each other the silent treatment, but the next week
the man realized he needed to wake up early courtesy
of his wife for a five am flight. Not wanting
to be the first break of the silence, he finally
wrote him a piece of paper, please wake me up
at five am. The next morning. The mad boy cup I,
only to discover it was night in his mister's flight. Furious,
(08:34):
he was about to scream at his wife, and he
noticed a bit of paper by the bed that said
it's five am. Wake up. Dialogue is the key, right,
We'll leave it there. My name's Andy Muer. The Muster,
of course, is brought to you by Petersenelix. A podcast
is up shortly thanks to iHeartRadio. Joyed the afternoon See
tomorrow
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