Lawn said he is overwhelmed with the work and preparation needed over the next few months.
It will be his second final. In 2017 he came 5th fifth, just behind Lisa Kendall, who won this year’s northern region contest.
“I understand the process and the time and constraints that it’s going to put on life.
“There’s always going to be a challenge with every grand final not knowing what the organising committee is going to throw you but I’m lucky enough to be a previous grand finalist and I’m going to try to lean on that experience as much as possible and hopefully bring back the trophy for Taranaki-Manawatu,” he said.
Lawn won three of the five categories, innovation, environment and food.
Hugh Jackson, a DairyNZ trainee consultant was runner-up in his first contest.
“I’m ecstatic. I’m very stoked. It couldn’t have gone much better tonight and today. It was really good fun and I’m over the moon,” he said.
“I really surprised myself at the quiz and being on the DairyNZ graduate programme now helped a huge amount with heaps of information going in, so I’m really grateful for that.”
AgriHQ market analyst Graham Johnson was third.
The 22-year-old was runner-up at last year’s regional final and runner-up FMG Junior Young Farmer of the Year while in high school.
In the junior young farmer competition the first three places went to teams of two from Feilding High School.
Phoebe Smailes, 17, and Anna Simpson, 17, won for the second year in a row. Smailes was also the competitor of the day.
“There was a lot of other good kids here. We all have our strengths and we’re all good at what we do. We’re all obviously here because we love it and just to be chosen as that competitor of the day is pretty cool,” she said.
Frank Fertilisers’ made up by Renee Biggs and Holly Gregory came second.
Both teams will compete at the grand final in Christchurch in July.
In the Agrikids competition, first place went to the team of Gabby Cavan, Phoebe Driscole and Sophia Pinkney from Carncot Independent School in Palmerston North.
Second place went to a trio from South Makariri School and a team from Mount Biggs School near Feilding came third.
The top three teams will also compete at the grand final in Christchurch in July
Northern region winner Lisa Kendall and Waikato/Bay of plenty winner Mitchel Hoare were the first two finalists found.
