Hamish Best - NZ

Hamish Best is a self-employed sheep and beef farmer managing 420 hectares in the Western Hills of Wellington. He has established a direct-to-market red meat brand called Conscious Valley, which connects the farm to its urban neighbours. His proudest achievement was being the runner-up in the New Zealand Young Farmers competition. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing golf, swimming, and scuba diving to relax. Hamish aspires to see the sheep and beef sector thrive in the future, creating career opportunities for other aspiring young farmers.

He believes that tailored mentoring would aid in his development, enabling him to become a mentor to others, succeed in business development, and grow personally. In five years, he envisions his farm business doubling, with all prime red meat produced being sold in local markets in Wellington. To achieve this, he would require staff—preferably young, energetic individuals seeking a career whom he could mentor, thereby contributing to the development of future rural leaders. A tailored mentoring package would greatly benefit his growth, allowing him to give back in the future.

Since returning to farming, Hamish has built a small red meat brand that markets beef and lamb in Wellington, reconnecting urban consumers with the story behind their meat. He anticipates that within the next five years, many more urban residents will gain knowledge about agriculture as they learn more about the farm. His leadership roles also include serving as an ambassador for Beef and Lamb NZ at the Global Sheep Forum, which involves networking and building relationships with sheep farming counterparts from four other countries.

As an ambassador for this award, Hamish intends to take the initiative and seize the opportunity to learn from leaders, fully engage with all available experiences, and surpass his potential. His goal is to position himself to help make the rural sector an exciting and thriving industry to be part of.